Flexible working gains support

Flexible working is gaining support from senior level managers.

In a new survey carried out by the world’s largest flexible workspace provider, Regus, 76% of Exeter professionals believe their senior management support the idea.

However, 71% of Exeter respondents say that managers require specific training in order manage their remote team members successfully. In particular, maintaining close contact is key. Over three quarters (79%) believe managers should speak to remote staff several times a week, and 89% think monthly face-to-face meetings are important.

When it comes to measuring the performance of remote workers, over half believe remote workers should accept the use of IT systems that track and measure levels of work activity (53%) and productivity (53%).

Although it’s recognised that managers might need extra training to accommodate flexible working practices, over half of Exeter workers believe the effort is worth it. 68% say their sector is increasing the availability of remote working in order to attract and retain top talent.

Richard Morris, UK CEO Regus comments: “With its benefits to employers and workers, it’s no wonder that businesses are increasingly offering remote working options to staff. However, the research findings emphasise the need for regular contact between managers and their team members, and the importance of measuring success by output.

“For managers concerned about maintaining productivity, offering staff the opportunity to work from a professional environment, with minimal distractions, close to home can help to allay their fears. Indeed, our customers tell us that using flexible workspace translates directly into productivity gains. It helps to reduce time spent travelling to the office and in ad hoc meetings but also eliminates the inconvenience and isolation of having to work from home.”