YouGov Survey Sheds Light On Employers’ Views On Arrangements

New research has revealed that more than 60 per cent of senior executives in businesses are comfortable that employees are productive when working externally from the office, with the findings indicating an increasingly positive attitude towards flexible working.

According to the YouGov survey commissioned by Citrix, 63 per cent of those polled trust employees to get their work done when they are not in the office, with 28 per cent also stating that flexible working allows staff to maintain a positive work-life balance.

It also revealed that a quarter of executives are also under increasing pressure to introduce more flexible working opportunities for staff, with reasons including employee demand and travel budget cuts being cited.

A fifth of those polled added that flexible working was important from a business continuity perspective.

The release of the study has come several years after a study by the Durham University-based Wolfson Research Institute suggested flexible working can be good for the health of workers, as it allows many more rest and prevents stress.

Expert Opinion

For businesses of all sizes, including SMEs, the potential benefits of flexible working are now being widely acknowledged. <br/> <br/>“From the outset, there were some concerns that flexible working would become a difficult issue for companies to manage and ultimately adversely affect staff productivity. However, many companies have now adapted such ideas and are strong advocates for such a system of work. <br/> <br/>“In the 21st century, it has become the norm with big steps being taken in terms of technology and connectivity. Flexible working is undoubtedly a vital tool for employers to use to retain workers and, in the process, reduce costs related to recruitment and training. <br/> <br/>“However, a key issue for businesses to consider is how to implement such working practices and agreed guidelines would play a key role in ensuring employees now what is expected of them. Businesses should consider such a step if they have not already and seek legal advice on how to put some measures in place.” Fergal Dowling - Partner