Do You Enjoy The Benefits Of Flexible Working?
The practice of flexible working has been around for a long time although technology is making it a more widespread practice. But is it suitable for everyone?
A changing workplace
Many businesses have embraced flexible working, as they struggle to recruit staff with the skills they want. Companies in all sectors are adopting flexible work practices, as the workplace is transformed by digital technology. The profile of work and the expectations of employees are changing too, as the next generation seek meaningful jobs in companies with a vision of the world and their role within it.
Businesses compete with each other to recruit staff and offering the option of flexible working is attractive to those with young families and other dependents. Staff shortages not only restrict the growth of companies but also have a dampening effect on the economy. There is a shortfall in many areas of industry, as a scarcity of workers is no longer limited to those with high-level skills. As a result the next generation of workers have higher expectations and greater choices about where and when and how they want to work.
Businesses and their staff suffer the negative effects of daily commutes too, as economic success creates congestion on the roads. Excessive time spent in traffic has a significant cost to workers and employers, whereas, flexible working helps to address the problem, as people choose where to work and when to travel. There are benefits for employers too as employees are happier in their jobs and less stressed, which helps lessen the costs of recruitment.
Digital technology
The shift to flexible working is eased by the willingness of companies to allow people to work at different times and from different locations. There is an expectation from younger workers that companies should embrace the flexibility of technology, to mirror its use in their personal lives.
Flexible working comes in many forms and is in constant flux as businesses find more effective ways to engage staff. Hot-desks and shared working spaces are some of the popular forms. Using these arrangements means employees work from different locations on a part-time or full-time basis. Satellite offices provide facilities close to home and reduce commuting time. Such space is provided for the sole use of a company or as shared space with others. Remote mobility provides equipment that enables working from different places to suit the nature of the task. Drop-in space allows a mix of flexible working and is ideal for those who spend time in the field or visiting customers.
In each case staff can be in the company’s main office at agreed times while also enjoying the freedom of working in a way that suits them. Satellite work locations can also provide free car parking, free Wifi, super-fast broadband, meeting rooms or on-site cafés. Even with the advent of the digital workplace millions of people still travel long distances to work, as commuting exacts a personal and professional price in terms of anxiety and stress.
So, the demand for flexible working will continue to climb, as employers who embrace it will attract the best people in a competitive market for talent.
