UK business embraces flexible working

UK employers deserve a pat on the back for embracing flexible working, according to a new report from the British Chambers of Commerce. 

The report, Work and Life: How business is striking the right balance (PDF), provides an overview of UK companies' efforts to meet the work/life balance needs of employees. 

Some 89 per cent of the businesses surveyed provide employees with some form of flexible working. Almost three-quarters offer part time working, 69 per cent offer variable working hours and 38 per cent offer the ability to work from home.

As a result of offering flexible working, 71 per cent of employers believe that there has been 'some improvement' or a 'significant improvement' in employee relations.

Around 60 per cent of employers reported 'some improvement' or a 'significant improvement' in staff retention, and nearly the same number reported similar improvements in productivity.

The study highlighted an assumption among politicians from across the political spectrum that business has to be forced to be flexible through regulation.

"This report clearly shows how disconnected politicians are from the reality of UK workplaces," said Sally Low, director of policy and external affairs at the British Chambers of Commerce.

"Business is well ahead of the current debate. The overwhelming majority of respondents to our survey are embracing flexibility because they understand clearly the benefits to their employees, and are reporting improvements in employee relations, staff retention and productivity."

Low added that the reason why politicians may seem so keen to regulate is that businesses are poor at celebrating their own achievements.

As many as 84 per cent of respondents do not have a formal written 'work/life balance' policy to explain the perception gap that exists between what employers are actually doing and what politicians assume they are doing.

Phil Flaxton, chief executive at Work Wise UK, said: "The vast majority of businesses are now reaping the benefits of adopting smarter working practices, and many are seeing significant improvements in productivity and employee relations. 

"Smarter working will continue to become prevalent in the workplace, reducing the huge waste in terms of time and resources, helping businesses make a meaningful and achievable contributions to the environment, and reducing the impact on stress levels and the health of employees."

Instead of legislating it is clear that businesses need practical guidance on how they can work more flexibly at low cost.

The report concludes that without the HR support that large firms have, SMEs need business support schemes tailored specifically to their needs rather than further regulation which will impose a needless and onerous burden.