A happy workforce will naturally be more productive, with 48% of managers believing that flexibility makes for a more productive workplace. (HR News, 2019) Flexible working isn’t just a priority for millennials and younger workers either; it plays a crucial role in helping older employees stay in work longer, navigating health issues and travel or family commitments.
Taking flexible working to the next level:
Earlier this month, MP Helen Whately called for flexible working to become the default for all employees, rather than it being up to individuals to request. Introducing her Flexible Working Bill in Parliament, she argued that unless employers had a specific reason for having set working hours, all businesses should introduce flexibility. If these changes take place, it will mean all UK businesses will have to allow workers to have some flexibility as part of their contracts. The most common working pattern in the UK is 9-5, but employers are now acknowledging that their employees have other pressures in their lives that can cause stress and lead to diminished personal health, thus affecting productivity. Offering flexibility will make employees lives easier and less stressful, making them happier and more productive in the workplace.
Being more flexible is important in terms of recruitment, too. By casting your net as wide as possible and offering benefits such as flexible working, companies can attract employees who might not fit into the conventional workplace mould but still have huge potential as key talent.
Sources:
http://hrnews.co.uk/why-the-modern-workforce-needs-flexibility/
