Flexible working practices could generate up to \u00a390bn for the UK economy, according to the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR).\u00a0<\/p>\n
Revealing its findings in a new report, commissioned by the mobile workspace solutions company Citrix, CEBR said that flexible working allowances could improve how employees spent their time, and would go a long way to reducing the burden of commuting costs.<\/p>\n
The report was based on a survey of 1,272 Britons, in which it found that 83 per cent of professional occupations, or what CEBR defines as \u201cthinking jobs\u201d, such as engineers and lawyers, would use flexible working options if they were available.<\/p>\n
It estimates that this would add \u00a311.5bn, or 0.7 per cent of GDP, to the UK economy.<\/p>\n
Flexible time is becoming a popular trend in the UK, particularly amongst smaller businesses and start-ups.\u00a0 It is regarded as a progressive form of business practice, which seeks to eradicate the inefficiencies of the traditional nine to five routine.\u00a0 However, due to administrative issues, as well as an entrenched traditional mentality, larger corporations have so far shown reluctance to pursue a flexible work hour culture.<\/p>\n
Jacqueline de Rojas of Citrix said there needed to be a \u201cmentality shift\u201d among British businesses.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cIt is time to move on from judging workers on how long they spend at their desks to evaluating them on the work they actually deliver.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose that choose not to enable workplace mobility will lose out in the war for talent.\u201d<\/p>\n
Earlier this year the Government changed UK law to allow employees who have been in their jobs for more than 26 weeks to ask their employers for a change in work patterns.<\/p>\n
However, a recent YouGov poll revealed that 2,000 Britons still believed there is work to be done in changing workplace norms.\u00a0 Amongst various issues cited by participants, 42 per cent said they felt uncomfortable making a flexible work hour request to their employees.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, speaking at a roundtable discussion on the matter last month, CBI deputy director-general Katja Hall said: \u201cFlexible working is not asking a favour.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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