Technology-enabled flexible working will increase as employers
move away from the assumption that those that are at their desks
longer are doing more work.
If employers support flexible working it will inevitably take
off because workers are demanding it and
the technology to enable it is available.
According to research carried out by Vansone Bourne and a
Kingston Business School report that accompanied it, almost 60% of
employers do not consider how late employees stay in the office as
an indication of how hard they are working.The research, which was
sponsored by T-Mobile, also revealed that 46% of employers do not
reward people for working late.
The survey was of 500 SME businesses.
Employees have been calling for flexible working opportunities
for some time. Working outside the office is the future according
to 78% of office workers surveyed by The Work Foundation and
Microsoft last year.
Findings from the survey of 1080 people showed that more than
half would be happier if there was a greater element of mobile
working in their jobs and 16% said that they would actually leave
their jobs within six months if their boss was not open to flexible
working.
Christine Edwards, professor of human resource management at
Kingston University, said the
decision by the government to press ahead with plans to extend
the right to request flexible working to parents of older children
means employers need to consider its adoption.
She added that the economic downturn is a good time for firms to
invest in mobile technology to enable flexible working. "During any
economic climate, but particularly during a downturn, it is in the
interest of businesses to ensure they are keeping their staff happy
and productive. Employers need to ensure they offer the best mobile
technology and support to make things as easy as possible for their
mobile workforce."