Adapt And Grow

Seven reasons business leaders should be embracing the benefits of flexible working.

- Paul Burrin 

What hours did you work yesterday? Chances are, it wasn’t nine-to-five. The world of work as we know it is changing. With new technology making it easier to work anywhere, anytime, the traditional nine-to-five schedule is effectively dead.

Having flexibility in their working schedule is now a key priority for employees, helping them to successfully juggle work and personal responsibilities. In fact, more than 80% of 3,500 employees Sage People polled globally placed importance and value on flexible and remote working.

Valuing a work-life balance has become increasingly important. Whether this is to meet family needs, personal obligations or just to avoid rush hour – it is clear that giving employees increased control over their work schedule is good for them, making it good for business.

With that in mind, here are the reasons business leaders should consider flexible working.

1The world of work has changed

The line between work-life and home-life is much more blurred than it was just a few years ago. For example, it’s now common for people to demand virtual meetings, the ability to work from home, and even have ‘duvet days’ when required, rather than having to suffer through the dreaded commute for hours every day.

Furthermore, modern work responsibilities are often cross-functional, requiring staff to interact with more people in different time zones. As a result, constraints on how, where and when we work should be updated to reflect this cultural shift. Businesses must be prepared to accept that the working world has changed if they want to truly motivate and engage employees.

2 There’s a war for talent