Most small and medium-sized IT companies do not allow their
staff to work flexible hours or work from home, a survey of 418
human resources managers has found.
The inability of managers to monitor remote staff and the belief
that flexible working practices went against the business culture
were the main barriers to flexible working, the survey by telephony
group Inter-Tel Europe found.
Despite this, most employers recognised that flexible working could
make staff more productive, more motivated, less stressed and
easier to recruit.
Chris Harris, managing director at Inter-Tel Europe, said too many
companies were adopting poorly thought out policies on flexible
working.
"Small and medium-sized enterprises, in particular, will have to
take flexible working to new heights if they are to attract and
retain the best skills. Making more of the technology they already
have, or being bold and becoming an early adopter of emerging and
cost-saving technologies such as IP telephony would certainly be
worth considering," he said.