57% of UK office managers are more likely to promote flexible working
New research from Plantronics (NYSE: PLT), the leading maker of
communications headsets, has found that 57% of UK office managers1 would
be more likely to allow their employees to work flexibly, despite the
recession. The research coincides with Work Wise week 20092, which
promotes smarter working practices in the UK.
According to the new study of 1,518 office workers and managers,
conducted by Plantronics to understand the impact of the recession on
attitudes towards flexible and home working, 59% of UK office workers
said that they were still inclined to work from home or ask for flexible
working hours despite the current recession.
Just 15% of the office workers surveyed said that they would be
significantly less inclined to ask for flexible working hours as a
result of the recession, with only 8% of UK office managers saying that
they would be a lot less likely to encourage flexible working during the
current economic crisis.
Barriers to flexible working
Lack of access to the right technology is seen as a block to home
working for workers. 32% of employees feel poorly equipped at home and
unsupported by bosses who are reluctant to provide the right technology
to facilitate home working. Despite the widespread availability and
falling technology prices that could make home working easy, such as
high speed broadband, wireless headsets and portable communication
devices, people still feel chained to their desks.
Company culture and image also play a crucial part in the attitudes
towards flexible working practices. Of those respondents less likely to
work from home, 62% said this was because they believed employers looked
down on home working and so would worry that their commitment to the job
was doubted. Of those sceptical managers, more than a third believe
colleagues that work from home are not as productive and don’t have the
technology in place to support flexible working practices. In addition,
of those managers against flexible working, a third said this was
because they want to be able to keep an eye on their staff.
The Generation Gap
Flexible working is thought of as appealing to the younger generation -
drawn to the prospect of greater freedom in the workplace. Of all the
respondents it was the generation Y group (16-25) however, who said that
they were less likely to ask for flexible working hours during the
current recession. 18% said they would be much less likely to ask.
By contrast, it was the older generation of 55+ who said that they would
not be less inclined to ask for flexible working hours. 69% said that
they would still ask. Furthermore, 53% of managers in the 55+ category
said that they would also be more inclined to encourage flexible working
during the recession.
Regional differences
Attitudes towards flexible working practices differ across the UK. On
average approximately two thirds of respondents in the East of England,
the Midlands, the North East and all of the South said that they would
still be inclined to ask for flexible working hours, with only just over
a third feeling the same in London.
Feeling about preparedness for flexible working across the UK is more
mixed however. Respondents from London, although less inclined to do so,
felt that they were better supported from a technology standpoint with
only 14% citing it as a reason against flexible working - compared to
55% in the East of England and 36% in the Midlands.
Dispelling the Workload Myth
Many argue against flexible working because they believe it increases
the workloads of those left working from the office. Our research
however, shows that 75% of respondents do not have greater workloads due
to fewer people being in the office than they did a year ago.
“These results are very surprising and highlight that there is a real
appetite for flexible working practices in the UK - among both managers
and workers.” Says Paul Clark, General Manager, UK for Plantronics.
“Furthermore, I would have thought it would be the younger generation
jumping at the chance for flexible working not the older generation who
seem to be more inclined to ask for it.”
“We know that attitudes are shifting in favour of flexible working
practices and we also know that affordable technology is available for
businesses to take advantage of it.” Clark continued, “As a company
passionate about developing technology that helps people work smarter
and not harder, Plantronics is keen to work with UK businesses to help
them take full advantage of the technology, which will enable them to
facilitate this shift towards flexible working.”
