Nine out of 10 SMBs allow flexible working

gallery

The overwhelming majority of small and medium businesses (SMBs) offer their employees flexible working in some form or another, according to a survey by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).

The survey found that 89 per cent of such businesses embrace flexibility in the workplace, with nearly three-quarters offering part-time working, while 69 per cent allow variable working hours. Just 38 per cent, however, let employees work from home.

This is despite some 84 per cent of firms not having a formal policy regarding work-life balance, the study found.

According to the BCC, the study suggests the government need not create new laws to force firms to offer flexible working arrangements. As previously reported in IT PRO, the government recently expanded a law requiring firms. to offer such work terms to people with a caring responsibility, such as for small children or elderly relatives. But Children's Minster Beverly Hughes has suggested that law should apply to everyone.

"This report clearly shows how disconnected politicians are from the reality of the UK's workplaces," said Sally Low, director of policy and external affairs at the BCC. "Business is well ahead of the current debate. The overwhelming majority of respondents to our survey are embracing flexibility because they understand clearly the benefits of providing flexible working to their employees, reporting improvements in employee relations, staff retention and productivity."

Indeed, 71 per cent of the SMB firms surveyed said relations with employees improved after they began offering flexible working. In addition, 60 per cent reported better staff retention, while 58 per cent cited productivity improvements.

"The vast majority of businesses are now reaping the benefits of adopting smarter working practices, with many seeing significant improvements in productivity and employee relations," said Phil Flaxton, chief executive of flexible working body Work Wise UK, in response to the BCC study.

Those firms which aren't offering such arrangements cited concerns about the administrative burden and how a reorganised workload would affect their business growth. They also said they wanted to be fair to all employees.

"Those who aren't providing flexibility for their staff lack the management confidence to restructure the way they manage their staff, only advice and support will rectify this while further regulation will impose a needless and onerous burden," said Low in a statement.

Work Wise UK's Flaxton said he expects flexible working to continue to spread throughout the workplace - with good knock-on effects.

"Smarter working will continue to become prevalent in the workplace, reducing the huge waste in terms of time and resources, helping business make a meaningful and achievable contribution to the environment, and reducing the impacts upon stress levels and the health of employees," he said.

Email to a friend

Print this page