It doesn’t work for all businesses but for many, there are big gains to be had, say two observers.
BERKSHIRE: Many workplaces have been experimenting with different types of flexible working arrangements for years now, but the pandemic has made the need for flexibility far more pressing.
And Unilever is currently undertaking a 12-month trial among all of the business’s 81 staff in New Zealand. The main benefits found were: Improving the ability to attract and retain talent, increasing overall employee satisfaction, reporting lower employee sickness levels and increasing productivity. Half of the employees surveyed in our study would not opt for this way of working if they felt their employer didn’t support it properly.START SLOW
Running training sessions where benefits are demonstrated is an option here, but the most important factor is engaging line managers in the decision-making process, so that all operational obstacles can be overcome before any implementation.