Flexible working is a hot topic right now as confirmed by the many comments and discussions that took place on the BBF LinkedIn group recently. However, many employers still shy away from the fact that it can be an easy means of attracting and retaining the right talent. Furthermore, those employers that don’t take advantage of the many benefits could also be missing out on the opportunity of a more engaged and productive workforce who are happy and motivated. The Government also recognises the need and considerable benefits of a more flexible workforce and introduced the Flexible Working initiative – designed to make it easier for employees to request more flexibility at work.

So, what could the benefits mean to your organisation and what things do you need to consider? Obviously, for some customer facing type roles it would be difficult to accommodate, but with modern IT infrastructure, telecoms, an efficient internet and honest and transparent communication and processes between the employer and the employee, many of the traditional barriers have now been removed. 

There are many recognised benefits but here are a few of my personal favourites:

Personally, sometimes I find an office environment distracting. Constant interruptions, phones ringing, loud telephone conversations, photocopier gossips and numerous meeting requests, can all have an impact on my productivity and the quality of my work produced. To write this article I have to plug myself into my iPhone and listen to Trance music and be devoid of any distraction in order to get my creative juices flowing… am sure you would all immediately spot the difference if I didn’t!

The time and costs associated with commuting… There is a strong case for working from home when you consider the environmental impact of commuting (24% of the UK’s carbon footprint is from transport), as well as time lost through congestion (an amazing 16% of all travel time in the south east is spent stuck in traffic). Just consider how much more productive and less stressed your employees would be if they could use this time more usefully.

Flexibility – employees feel trusted and empowered when their employers support them in their decision to work remotely and flexibly. When managed appropriately this makes them more productive and happier and can also offer access to a whole host of new talent who perhaps need to balance the requirements of childcare and their working lives.

Making home working a success depends on excellent communication, which relies on attitudes and management as much as it does on robust and efficient technology and processes. However, it is a myth that flexible working is only for the large corporate businesses. Many smaller businesses have recognised and wholeheartedly engaged with this new modern and efficient style of working, and a whole new industry sector - that of the Virtual Assistants clearly demonstrates this. Now, businesses irrespective of size or sector can easily and competitively access the skills, expertise and experience of a plethora of talent remotely and without the need and costs associated with full or part- time recruitment – now that surely demonstrates true flexibility!

If you would like to find out more about flexible working, or any other question regarding business support please contact us on 01494 568941 or BusinessSupport@bbf.uk.com.