Cardiff Council is aiming to leverage some of the benefits of enabling its employees to operate more flexibly as part of a new smarter working plan.

Much of the focus of the new strategy is on ensuring a greater work life balance for the council’s employees by allowing more flexible working hours and enabling staff to operate from home.

The council is working with the group behind the ongoing "work life balance in Wales" initiative Chwarae Teg and is hoping ultimately to deliver a more effective service to the thousands of users of its various services.

"Once fully operational it will be key to cementing the council’s reputation as an employer of choice and as a means to support our people strategy, in particular improving employee engagement and achieving business efficiencies," said Philip Lenz, chief human resources officer at Cardiff Council.

The Work Wise UK group, which promotes smarter working practices nationwide, suggests working from home can cut employee stress levels and help reduce the effects of Britain’s "long hours culture".