Introducing flexible working policies at work can benefit both a business and its workforce.
Research by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation and the Professional Contractors Group revealed that the majority of people, including the general public and politicians, believe in the benefits of flexible working.
Businesses with a flexible workforce are best placed to recover from the recession and help the UK stimulate economic growth as those employed in a temporary capacity can then take advantage of permanent positions.
Implementing flexible working by allowing employees to take part-time positions instead of redundancy is a great way to keep as many staff employed during an economic downturn which can then protect workforce morale.
This continuity is likely to have a positive impact on staff retention, which enables a business to keep experienced staff that can perform to full capacity provide a better overall service.
High staff morale leads to feelings of job satisfaction which can then result in reduced levels of sickness absence that is a precursor to consistent levels of business performance.
Promoting flexible working makes good business sense during economic uncertainty as it allows for greater cost-effectiveness and efficiency as businesses can save on overheads by allowing their employees to work from home.
Retailers can stay open for longer hours if their employees are allowed to work variable hours which opens up the possibility of greater customer satisfaction and higher profit levels.
Employing a flexible workforce can help a business stay competitive during an economic term as they will be able to respond to changing market forces and act accordingly.
Recruiting a higher calibre of staff can become easier as job candidates, especially mothers, will be attracted to organisations that provide employee benefits such as variable hours.
The majority of employees appreciate organisations that provide flexibility within the workplace as it gives them the opportunity to find time for other commitments and activities during their free time.
Such flexibility is most appropriate to employees who have to care for young children or the disabled as this will enable them to fit work around their home life responsibilities.
Performance improvement consulting professionals can help an organisation plan, implement and monitor the introduction of flexible working policies across a business.
Businesses can pressure the government to implement measures to make flexible working easier to introduce in the workplace such as a simplified tax system and a universal credit and pensions system.
