Flexible working not being offered by employers

Many employees feel that flexible working would help with creativity and productivity within the workforce

Powwownow’s recent research results have shown that the majority of employers are only offering flexible working if pre-empted by their employees.

The Flexible Working Law was passed on June 30th 2014, giving all employees the right to request flexible working after 26 weeks’ employment service, however the findings reveal that not much has changed despite this.

The research showed that nearly two thirds (60 per cent) of respondents also claim they are not encouraged to work flexibly and more than half (53 per cent) have worked a total of zero hours outside their office.

The majority of those surveyed felt that flexible working would have positive results with 62 per cent of people stating they would be more productive if they could spend time working outside their usual place of work and 58 per cent admit being able to choose where to work from would help them to think more creatively and be more motivated.

Many UK businesses do offer flexibility to their staff, especially those with young families and extra-curricular interests, so the findings come as somewhat as a surprise.  However, when compared to Europe, the UK is still well ahead with only 6 percent of workers in France being offered flexible working.

Managing Director of Powwownow, Jason Downes, said:

‘Flexible working has become a key area now when people are looking for a job and companies in the UK face losing the top talent if they don’t adapt to this way of working,’

‘With the technology now on offer there is no need for people to have to work in an office from 9-5. This is old fashioned and seemingly unproductive and more needs to be done for this to change.’

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