New research from O2 Business shows that flexible working still isn’t widespread, with only 54% of workers knowing their rights. It does seem to be a key way to avoiding burnout, with other research showing that 62% of workers say they are happier now that they work outside the main office some of the time. We look at ways to make flexible working easier.
In other news, 50% of small businesses say they have cash flow problems every year. And there’s a new website that allows companies to test the viability of pension buyouts.
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50% of small firms experience cash flow problems every year
And 68% of small business owners said a lack of access to working capital is having a detrimental effect on business growth, with it taking an average of seven days to secure a loan.
Companies now able to access entire pensions buyout market
Companies and pension scheme trustees looking to remove pension liabilities from their balance sheet can now test the viability of buyout/buy-in deals via a single platform.
Employees say lack of technology is preventing flexible working
Research by O2 Business shows that 54% of workers know about their right to flexible working but only 23% are benefiting from the new regulations. The main barriers are a lack of trust, the business culture and a lack of technology.
Half of the UK’s workforce say they are closer to burning out than they were five years ago.
87% of businesses to increase investment in mobile marketing
The key objectives were to drive sales (74%), acquire new customers (72%) and increase website traffic (37%).
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Getting the most from flexible working
With the latest research showing that employees are failing to take advantage of flexible working, companies may be missing out on the benefits. We look at ways to ensure your staff and business are getting the most from these newer ways of working
1. Make sure people know what’s available
From 30 June last year, all staff who have been employed continuously for 26 weeks can ask for flexible working. Before that date, companies only had to make it available to parents.
However, 46% of workers don’t know about their rights to flexible working. To combat this, be sure to provide information about what’s available in your company. That may include:
- Remote working
- Mobile working
- Flexitime
- Job sharing
It’s definitely worth encouraging the take-up of flexible working. Research by Regus showed that 68% of workers were less stressed if they worked away from the office some of the time.
And it’s not just your staff who benefit. 64% of small business owners say that offering flexible, mobile or remote working helped them hire or retain staff.
2. Get a process in place
Make sure that you’re ready to handle requests. Having a standard process in place means everything is dealt with consistently and employees know what will happen. The legislation outlines the key things that should be included:
- How to make a request. The employee must do this in writing and their request should include when they want it to start and what type of flexible working they are requesting. Each member of staff can make a request once every 12 months.
- What the process is for considering the request
- How staff will be informed
- How to appeal
It’s important that you understand the legislation and know if and when you can decline a request. There’s more information about this on the Government website
3. Get the right technology
This is a key stumbling block to remote working, so it’s important that your systems allow staff to work outside the office. Here are the key things to think about:
Accessing software away from the office
Remote workers need to be able to access the same information regardless of their location. There are many different ways of doing this, from mobile apps for desktop software through to cloud hosted packages like Sage One.
You can also choose a mixture of desktop and cloud hosting by using new hybrid software, such as Sage 50 Accounts.
Making calls
Use of VOIP to make voice and video calls over the internet is on the rise. It’s now easier for employees who work outside the office to chat to colleagues, attend meetings and stay connected. Try free tools such as Skype and Google Hangouts.
Sharing files
Cloud software makes file sharing much easier. You can get free storage through apps like Dropbox and Google Drive, which allow everyone to access the same information. Just be sure to read the terms and conditions so you can check that any confidential data is safe.
Having the right hardware
Of course, you’ll also need to make sure your employees have the right equipment. Many companies use laptops as standard to make it easier to work on the move.
Tablets and smartphone use is also increasing with 32% of workers now using more than one mobile device during the day.
If you’re worried about the costs, you could let your employees use their own technology. Bring Your Own Device or BYOD is increasingly popular with almost 70% of full time employees now using their own phone or tablet for work. If you’d like to encourage this, just make sure you have a policy in place to keep your data safe.
4. Embrace change
Introducing flexible working means your business will change. You may need to think about the way you manage your remote workers. And other employees will also need to adapt.
Cultural change does take time but adopting a positive attitude to flexible working and being clear about the benefits can help. As time goes by and people see how flexible working helps the business, change will come.