What is flexible working?

Flexible working covers any variation to the existing timing, hours or location of a job It allows employees to balance their work and other commitments and gives employers the opportunity to arrange work to suit the business needs. It can mean things like compressed hours, flexible start or finish times, working remotely or from home, zero hours contracts and over-time. There are many varieties of flexible working available, and many companies organisations offer their employees the choice of a wide range of options to help them balance work and family life and the business meet its needs.

As our economy has changed and with our socio-demographic trends attitudes to working flexibly have changed radically in the past few years.  As a result managing different working patterns is increasingly common.  Technology is no longer a barrier to working remotely or at different times of day. The challenges now are around consistent, good management practices and challenging the bias that drives presenteeism.

There is a strong business case for facilitating senior managers to work like this: retention, energy, effectiveness, motivation and long-term loyalty can all be enhanced.
Customers and clients can also benefit as work can be flexed to suit their agendas.  Managed effectively, flexible working reflects that you are an innovative, resourceful and results-driven organisation  – the sort they want to do business with.

Senior role models working on reduced hour or a flexible basis send a powerful message to others in the organisation as well as the people you want to attract as employees.  The diversity aspect of enabling people to manage work alongside family and other commitments is also increasingly important.  Organisations who want to keep ahead know that time, as well as money, is a major bargaining tool when it comes to recruiting and retaining talent.