{"id":510,"date":"2011-12-01T08:00:50","date_gmt":"2011-12-01T08:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/my-brains.co.uk\/jackross\/jack-ross-news\/?p=510"},"modified":"2011-12-01T08:00:50","modified_gmt":"2011-12-01T08:00:50","slug":"flexible-working-a-smarter-way-to-run-a-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/my-brains.co.uk\/jackross\/flexible-working-a-smarter-way-to-run-a-business\/","title":{"rendered":"Flexible working: a smarter way to run a business?"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is flexible working? A number of surveys have revealed that more than 95 per cent of workers relate flexible working to having the ability to adapt their way of working, to suit both the employee and<\/em> the employer.<\/p>\n

Research indicates that more than 55% of companies have introduced flexible working solutions for their staff.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

In recent years, an increasing number of employers have reacted to social and economic changes \u2013 for example, the need for many families to have two earners – by introducing working patterns that enable employees better to balance their responsibilities to their jobs and their responsibilities to their home lives.<\/p>\n

The effect of increased employment legislation also means that many more employees are now entitled to request more flexible working patterns.<\/p>\n

However, introducing good work-home life practices benefits not only employees but also employers. By reducing the amount of stress that many workers feel attempting to juggle both careers and the demands of family life, employers can help to create a happier and, therefore, more productive working environment.<\/p>\n

As well as boosting productivity, good work-home life arrangements can lead to better quality of work, a reduction in sickness absence, increased staff loyalty and commitment (and, in turn, reduced recruitment costs) and higher workforce morale.<\/p>\n

There are other advantages that can sharpen competitiveness. Properly managed, flexible working patterns can produce a more agile business, one better able to cope with fluctuations in demand and shifts in the market. Shift work and flexi-time, for example, allow a business to remain productive for longer without increasing the number of hours that individual employees work. Home working can help reduce office overheads.<\/p>\n

Introducing work-home life policies<\/strong><\/p>\n

Before implementing flexible working policies, you should first assess your business needs and how these can be furthered by new working practices. The type of flexible working must also be considered: how does it fit both the operation of the business and the lives of the employees?<\/p>\n

Employees ought to be consulted on any changes; this will help them appreciate the effects of particular flexible working patterns from their own point of view and from that of the business too.<\/p>\n

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Survey response?<\/strong><\/p>\n

What is the hardest part of implementing a flexible working strategy?<\/p>\n

Reasons given include:<\/p>\n