Flexible working is a great way of increasing productivity and improving work-life balance.
Employees who have worked continuously for your business for 26 weeks or more have a statutory right to request a flexible working arrangement, and you have a legal responsibility to consider their request. However, you should also view flexible working as a valuable opportunity for your business and you can use this site to give you guidance on how to get started.
Different types of flexible working
Flexible working can happen in many different ways. It could include using technology to work from home or to work remotely, while out and about. At a very simple level, examples of flexible working could include:
- making more use of teleconferencing and telecommuting rather than spending time and money travelling to meetings.
- letting your staff carry out some of their work from home rather than travel into the office every day – improving personal productivity and work life balance.
- having a more flexible approach to when work is done. Perhaps it would suit some of your staff and the business better if some of the work were carried out in the early morning, in the evening or at weekends, improving personal productivity.
Some businesses will want to invest in technology to gain further advantages of flexible working and really make the most of superfast broadband. Examples include:
- installing a Virtual Private Network to enable remote working. Then your staff can all work from home just as if they are in the office, enjoying remote access
- supplying staff with wireless enabled devices so they can carry out mobile working
- have staff work from a number of different locations around the UK – or even around the globe – connected together by superfast broadband
- some businesses even decide they no longer need an office at all – with huge cost savings!
How can your business benefit?
Many people today want improved work-life balance. And, of course, in places like Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, many people live in remote places and have a long journey to travel to work. If you can help employees to work from home through teleworking or staggering their journey time, they can reduce travel and avoid congestion on the roads, and your business will gain as a result.
With superfast broadband, it is easier than ever before to achieve a wide range of benefits for your business.
- you can attract better staff
- you can provide improved customer service
- motivated staff are less likely to take sick leave
- employees who enjoy flexible working are better at meeting tight deadlines. They will put in the extra mile for their employer when the business needs it.
- some staff work better at different times of day. Flexible workers can work when they are at their peak, increasing productivity
- some of the time saved on travel to the office can be spent working, increasing productivity
- staff retention goes up, as does the number of women who return to work after maternity leave
In today’s business world, true competitive advantage is being able to anticipate change, react quickly and be there 24/7. With flexible working in place, and especially if enabled by superfast broadband, you can do just that.