Flexible working is the norm and no longer the exception

.
21/03/2011

Flexible working is the norm and no longer the exception

/86% of //New Zealand//businesses offer flexible working

/

/*Auckland**- **March 22, 2011**–* Over four fifths of companies in New Zealand are now offering their staff flexible working. And a majority of those same companies are finding that flexible working is bringing them major benefits, such as improved staff productivity, reduced overheads, and staff who are achieving an improved work-life balance. 57% of firms in New Zealand believe that flexible working costs less than fixed office working. These are the key findings of a new global research report from Regus based on responses from 17,000 businesses across 80 countries./

/William Willems, Vice President for Regus Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia comments: “That flexible work has become the norm is good news all round: from employer to employee, from families to wider society and even the environment, everyone can benefit. For the first time, a global report based on 17,000 respondents provides conclusive statistical evidence, on the availability of flexible working and the value derived from associated benefits.” /

/Nine out of ten businesses offering flexible working report that their staff have a significantly better work-life balance, improving satisfaction and motivation; one third that it improves staff productivity, and half say that it helps them scale rapidly to cope with rapid growth. /

/At the same time, the survey also finds that trust remains a major hurdle for many companies offering flexible working: 29% of New Zealand businesses only offer this privilege to senior staff. ”By basing the right to flexibility on seniority, some firms are missing huge opportunities and may even alienate new talent that they may have gone to a great effort to attract.” - comments William Willems./

/William Willems adds, “With studies showing that productivity is increased by allowing employees some degree of flexibility,[1] it is disappointing to see some companies letting trust issues hold them back from flexi-working for all employees. However, since a good proportion of them see its advantages, even if they are not doing it at the moment, we can expect further growth in flexible working across the decade.”/

/- End - /

.

© Scoop Media