Flexible Working is a trend that is here to stay…..does your business flex for success?
Flexible working is on the rise. Over 4.3 million people within the UK have a contract that lets them work flexibly and since the pandemic, businesses have seen a 10% rise in the number of flexible working requests being submitted.
Flexible working refers to any working pattern that doesn’t conform to the normal 9-5 routine – it can be any type of working pattern including part time hours, compressed hours, term time only hours and can also include requests to work from a different location such as from home for all or part of the working week.
Since 2014 all employees with 26 weeks continuous service or more have had the legal right to request the right to work flexibly. This law is currently under review with the aim of extending this right to day one of employment for all. The legislation allows organisations to consider flexible working requests from employees and provides scenarios in which an employer can refuse a request which include the business not being able to meet demand, work not able to be reorganised amongst team or the change will incur extra cost for the business.
But before you refuse the request, consider the benefits that flexible working could bring your business.
Increased productivity – happy employees are productive employees and not everyone works in the same way through the day. Maybe some of your employees are more productive at the start of the day, and some later in the day. If your organisation can allow people to work at different times, flexing start and finish times may help you get the most from your teams. A recent survey of UK managers backs this up with 73% believing their teams productivity improved with the introduction of flexible working policies.
Improved work life balance – people’s lives are full of different commitments and arranging work in a way that lets people take care of their home life means that you are more likely to have someone’s complete time and attention when they are at work. Working hours that help people manage their home lives more effectively means less distraction at work – win win.
Attracting talent – if you want the best people to work for your business you might need to think creatively about how you can attract and retain them. Offering flexible working options means that you don’t discount people who may otherwise not be able to commit to a standard 9-5 working pattern. Recent studies showed that up to 55% of employees now class flexible working has a ‘must have’ when looking for a new job.
Wellbeing – numerous studies have found positive links between flexible working and reduced stress levels at work. It makes sense that if people are better balancing their home and work lives and have working hours that align with their lifestyles, stressful factors will reduce. With the average cost of sickness absence equating to £781 per employee per year, creating an environment where your colleagues are healthy and present at work will save you money in the long term.
When it is managed well, flexible working can be a real benefit to your organisation. If you need more information on how to manage a flexible team or want to make sure you are handling your employee’s requests fairly and in line with the legislation, contact FAB HR for more information and advice.