Flexible working boosts productivity and reduces costs, survey suggests

Nick Elvin

Flexible working is the key to workforce happiness, according to new research from Regus.

In the poll of more than 2,000 business owners and senior managers, nine out of ten reported that offering options such as flexi-location and flexi-hours was a highly effective way of improving staff morale and helping them to achieve a better work-life balance.

And 81% of respondents saw flexible working as a way to improve business productivity – up from a figure of 74% in last year’s survey.

When asked about costs, 67% of respondents regarded flexible working as a way of saving money, saying it saves on overheads associated with traditional fixed-office working, while just under half said they believe flexible working gives businesses significant competitive advantage.

Flexible working has long been the preserve of working parents and carers, but now that new laws have come into force giving all employees the right to request it, the practice appears to be becoming more widespread. 68% of respondents said flexi-work is being increasingly demanded by prospective employees.

John Spencer, UK CEO of Regus said: “The recent regulatory changes give all staff the legal right to request flexible working, and the results of our latest research serve as a timely reminder of the wide-ranging benefits of this modern approach to work.

“Having a choice in where, when and how we work makes a huge difference to our overall happiness; it helps us cut down on the stress of a long commute, frees up time to cook and eat healthily, or simply helps us get home earlier.

“However, it is important that employers embrace the multi-location workplace, not just flexi-hours. And this doesn’t just mean offering home-working. Most people prefer a more professional, dynamic environment that is closer to home, but crucially not at home, such as a local business centre or a ‘third place’ work location.”