More than three-quarters of HR professionals think flexible working
programmes bring competitive advantage to firms, according to research by the
Resource Connection for Personnel Today.
The study also found that organisations employing flexible work policies
felt they would achieve improved morale and motivation.
But respondents also said they felt flexibility would be difficult to manage
and open to abuse. Full findings are in our special report.
The endorsement of flexible working came as a campaign to encourage
employers to improve work-life balance was launched last week by equal
opportunities minister Margaret Hodge.
As part of the drive, the Government has issued a best practice guide based
on case studies of employers who have tackled the work-life balance issue and
made a fund of £1.5m available to help others emulate them.
The 22 employers feted in the guide have set up their own Employers for
Work-Life Balance campaign group and will be working with the Government to
promote flexible working in the business community.
