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Flexible Working – Are You Maximising Your Opportunities?
 If
your business has employees then you
probably know about the growth in popularity
of flexible working. It is quickly becoming
one of the most widely demanded forms of
benefit for employees, and that demand looks
unlikely to stop any time soon.
New research for BT Business shows that more
than 75% of 18-29 year olds say it is
important for potential employers to offer
flexible working options. The research also
shows that 43% of 18-29 year olds would
consider taking lower pay to be able to work
from home; compared to 31% of the over 50’s.
Beatriz Butsana-Sita, of BT Business, said:
“For young people today the idea of being in
the same office, at the same time, with the
same people every day, is just completely
out of date. Wireless and mobile
technologies and the ability to work
effectively away from the office come as
second nature to today’s generation of
graduates. It’s increasingly something that
they expect from an employer.
“The workforce of the future has been
brought up with technology as part of their
daily lives. Flexible working allowing a
better work/life balance is prized over
straight economic affluence. It’s something
all SME employers should think about.
A recent DTI survey showed that 70% of
graduate job seekers are actively looking
for the chance to work flexibly, with almost
half considering it the most important
benefit the employer could offer.
If you are employing new staff then you need
to take notice of these figures, if you do
not offer any kind of flexible working then
you are likely to miss out on a large number
of potential applicants. Flexible workers
and home workers have also been shown to be
more productive than office based workers.
Planning how to utilize and manage flexible
working could prove hugely beneficial in the
long term, allowing you to attract the best
staff and potentially increase efficiency;
without needing to increase wages!
Find out more about Employment issues in our
You and Work portal.
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