There is a lot of talk about the work-life balance, but
for many the routine of the daily commute seems set in stone. But
with IT spending, vacancies and salaries all on the up, employers
need some fresh approaches to attract and retain high-quality
staff.
"As our industry matures, mobile and remote working becomes more
feasible," said Maggie Miller, chief information officer of
Sainsbury's and one of the judges for the Best Places to Work in IT
awards. "This is gradually driving changes in the workplace to
support flexi-working, hot-desking and so on."
Miller said a more innovative approach to benefits is becoming
evident. "With the UK culture of long working hours, there is a
trend towards supporting flexibility in return - this manifests
itself in flexible packages and benefits, and more investment in
the workplace environment.
"There are many companies now offering benefits packages with a
menu of options, whereby benefits can be swapped or traded," she
said.
Miller believes that most managers would clearly recognise the
relationship between output/turnover and having a happy and
motivated workforce.
"It takes a small investment in time to look after people, for a
dramatic difference in motivation and happiness. I am amazed that
large firms do not set employee satisfaction goals," she
said.
Last year Sainsbury's won the Best Places to Work in IT award in
the retail, wholesale and distribution category. "The award
provides an external benchmark on the quality of our workplace and
management team," she said. "It is great publicity, especially for
recruitment, to say this is one of the best places to work in
IT."
Best
Places to Work in IT 05>>