Flexible working schemes are taking the corporate world by storm. From changing the idea of fixed hours to the ability to work remotely, over four million workers now have the opportunity to determine their own hours and the location of their workday.
This phenomenon is only set to grow in popularity and, by the end of 2020, over half of the current working population will have the ability to work from a place of their own choosing. But is it really beneficial for organisations?
Flexibility breeds autonomy
The rise in remote working stems from the corporate world realising just how valuable this perk is to their workforce; 75 per cent of workers state they would be reluctant to move to a new role which did not offer flexible or remote working. The flexibility afforded to employees by working from home allows them to manage their day as they see fit and can help increase their ability to manage their time and gain independence over their own workload.
Remote working doesn’t just benefit the employees – it can actually save both them and the company money in the long run. From general operating costs for the business to the commuting costs for those travelling into work, implementing a full-time remote working workforce would drastically save money for everyone involved. This could be something that really benefits small businesses or even isolated departments in larger corporations.Could relationships be at risk?
Could relationships be at risk?
While there are many ways in which remote working is beneficial for your workforce, it does, of course, come with its own challenges. One of which can be the lack of interaction that comes with not working within the office, an element that can often be taken for granted. Having the ability to turn to a colleague and ask a quick question regarding a client or a piece of work, or even being able to mentor those more junior level effectively is something that will be lost with the removal of a general office space.
Equally, it has been found that 95 per cent of business professionals agree that face to face communications are an ideal part of building a business relationship. Therefore, effective business relationships could potentially be jeopardised from a rise in remote working.
In addition to this, distractions could limit productivity when employees work from home. While many say that they’d work in a café or have their own office within their house, it’s the general office atmosphere that promotes a focus on the job at hand and reduces the disruptions that can occur.
Is it right for you?
Both pros and cons can be argued when it comes to considering the use of remote and flexible working with your workforce. And while the positives of this process mean that the hiring pool for your company is significantly wider, the negatives can cause additional processes to have to be put into place in order to control and manage the workforce in these remote areas.
It’s also important to note that the benefits of remote working are very unique to the industry you are in. For example, for those in sales roles, like recruitment, the negatives often outweigh the positives, with many of our team benefitting from the business sales environment.
Sometimes, it’s a case for compromise. Allowing workers the time to attend doctors’ appointments, children’s school plays or any other important personal event is something which most businesses are able to offer – and which most employees are happy to accept. The term “flexible working” is often used to cover lots of different policies. Ultimately, it’s about striking the right balance for your organisation and your employees.
Are you looking to hire your next HR professional? Contact our team at Faulkner Scott and we’ll help you find the perfect candidate.