Ways to increase flexibility in the workplace

By Eventus Recruitment Group

18 Mar 2024

Flexible Working LBV.jpg.jpg

Increasing flexible working arrangements has become a significant trend in modern workplaces. This trend is driven by many factors such as technology advancements and changing attitudes towards work-life balance. Furthermore, there’s now widespread recognition of the benefits flexible working provides both employers and employees.

Many professionals look to employers who offer job flexibility to enhance their work-life balance and for more freedom. As working full-time, juggling personal commitments, and finding a work-life balance can be a challenge.

Why should you offer more flexibility in the workplace?

Businesses who offer flexibility to their staff receive many benefits as a result. Benefits of flexibility in the workplace for employers include:

  • Happier and more productive employees
  • Increased staff retention
  • Helps you when recruiting, as your company will look more attractive to potential employees.

Comments on flexibility from our Recruitment Consultants

Offering flexible working arrangements can make your company more attractive to prospective employees and can also help retain current staff members. Many job seekers prioritise flexibility when considering potential employers, and employees are more likely to stay with a company that offers and reviews their flexibility options.  – Nikki Phillips, Senior Recruitment Consultant covering all legal roles across North West England and Wales.

Increasing flexibility in the workplace can also encourage greater diversity across many different metrics including gender, ethnicity and disability. There are numerous people who struggle with full-time, in office work. For example, for caregivers or those who can’t drive due to a medical condition. If you are struggling to attract a diverse talent pool, then look at your flexibility and ask yourself if you could do more. – Amy Watson, Director and Recruitment Consultant covering all legal roles across North East England and Yorkshire.

Ways to offer more flexibility

Here are several strategies and options for increasing flexible working:

Flexible working hours

There are many ways to be flexible over working hours. Consequently, moving away from the traditional 9am to 5pm can open up many hiring opportunities.

Flexitime

Flexitime is great, for when people are working extra hours and you don’t pay overtime. It allows them to take the time back to support their work-life balance. If people are expected to work additional hours and they aren’t compensated for them, after a while it will begin to grate on them and negatively impact their work-life balance. For example, if people are working overtime to meet deadlines or travelling to visit clients, they could take the time back at quieter times.

Core Hours

Core hours work by having set hours that must be worked during the day and offering flexibility outside of core hours. If employees are working their contracted hours it is another way to provide extra flexibility. For example, if your core hours are 10am-2pm, your employees have the flexibility to start and finish work outside of those hours. Maybe starting earlier working longer hours one day and finishing earlier another day.

Four day working week

A four-day working week is still being trialled across the globe. The majority of companies who took part in the initial trial have implemented a four day working week permanently. These companies noticed an increase in productivity and a positive impact on their employees’ wellbeing.

In our exclusive interview with John Hopkins – a leading expert in flexible working research – he discusses his findings from interviews with employers who have introduced a four day working week. Visit the blog section of our website to read the exclusive interview.

Prioritise Health and Well-being

Encouraging employees to prioritise their health and wellness can lead to increased productivity and job satisfaction. Implement wellness programs that support employee well-being, such as onsite fitness classes, mindfulness sessions, or access to mental health resources.

Provide flexibility for health appointments

It’s hard arranging health appointments when you work full time Monday to Friday. So, by being flexible and allowing employees to have health appointments during working hours, takes some stress and worry away from them when they are ill. Getting the help they need when ill to recover is better than not getting help and their work suffering as a result.

Caregiving Leave

Offering caregiving leave establishes your company as compassionate and opens your firm up to a new group of hires. Sometimes things happen that are unexpected and can’t be planned for, which your employers might benefit from taking extra leave off for. By offering caregiving leave, it will make your firm accessible as an employer for people with children, or planning to have children or people with elderly relatives who need care.

Buy and Sell Leave

Offering employees the opportunity to buy and sell leave gives them more flexibility for big life events. It allows them to effectively manage their work-life balance giving them more freedom over their leave entitlement.

Work from anywhere policy

A work from anywhere policy gives your employees extra flexibility over their working location. We have a policy where our employees can work from anywhere in the world for 5 days a year outside of their contracted location of office / hybrid or homeworking.

Hybrid working

2020 showed that many people can work from home efficiently and effectively. Consequently, hybrid working has become increasingly popular in recent years. Many people haven’t wanted to return to the office full-time and hybrid working offers them the best of both worlds. Working from home a day or two a week improves their work-life balance with no commute, saving time and commuting costs. Whilst working in the office provides time for communicating and collaborating face-to-face with colleagues.

With employees’ preferences changing, offering hybrid working will increase talent pools when hiring and enhance staff retention.

Advice for implementing a flexible working strategy

Eventus Legal as it was then, was set purely on a flexible basis long before it was the norm and it has been in practice for us since, whether that is genuine hybrid working, reduced hours or flexibility to work around families. Here, from our experience we provide our top tips for implementing flexible working policies.

  1. Consult with your employees
    It’s important to consult with all your employees before implementing flexible working policies. Flexible working expert John Hopkins said in an exclusive interview with us, that: “before changing anything, it’s important that employers understand the needs of their workers. What kinds of flexibility they would value, and how they will benefit from having it? This is a great starting point for implementing any new workplace flexibility measures. It is essential that workers are consulted in the first instance like this, before discussing what might be possible and what the benefits would be.”
  2. Performance Metrics
    Change how you measure performance. Shift the focus from hours worked to outcomes achieved. Establish clear goals and performance metrics for employees, which can be measured without considering their working hours or location.
  3. Invest in technology
    Invest in software that enables remote communication, teamwork and task management. This includes technology like video conferencing, project management software, and cloud-based document sharing software.
  4. Management Training
    Provide training and guides to all managers on any flexible working policies you introduce. Training should include how to implement the arrangements, communicating the policy, making adjustments, monitoring performance and requesting feedback.
  5. Regularly review policy
    It’s important that you regularly request feedback from managers and employees and review flexible working policies. This is to ensure that the arrangements are still working from both a business perspective and they are meeting your employee’s requirements.
  6. Trial Periods
    When introducing flexible working arrangements, consider holding a trial period to assess the feasibility and address any challenges before committing long-term.

By implementing this advice, businesses can effectively increase flexible working arrangements, promoting employee well-being, productivity and retention.

To discuss how you can implement more flexibility within your business, contact the Eventus Recruitment Group for a confidential chat at [email protected] or on 01524 34400. We are experienced recruitment professionals within the Legal, Finance, Accountancy, HR and Financial Services sectors.

Latest news

1

Financial Affairs support the Red Rose Award winners' reception Networking photograph

Financial Affairs support the Red Rose Award winners' reception

24 Apr 2025

2

Lancaster University unveils cutting-edge computing and cyber security facilities Head of Lancaster University's School of Computing and Communications Professor Nigel Davies, Chris Ensor, Vice-Chancellor Professor Andy Schofield and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Engagement) Professor Sarah Kemp

Lancaster University unveils cutting-edge computing and cyber security facilities

24 Apr 2025

3

Northcote announces new owners Alf and Clare Ellis as Lisa Goodwin-Allen returns as chef patron-director Craig Bancroft and Lisa Goodwin-Allen

Northcote announces new owners Alf and Clare Ellis as Lisa Goodwin-Allen returns as chef patron-director

24 Apr 2025

4

Major shareholder makes Inspired takeover bid inspired-500x500.png

Major shareholder makes Inspired takeover bid

23 Apr 2025

5

Nominate your favourite family-run business in Lancashire. Thompsons meeting (1).png.png

Nominate your favourite family-run business in Lancashire.

22 Apr 2025

Pc Prestonmacan Gif980x120 March
Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV122 May/June Launch Event
121 Lancashire Business View Magazine Launch
Networking
21 May 2025

LBV122 May/June Launch Event

Lancaster and Morecambe College, Lancaster, LA1 2TY

08:30 - 10:30

Sub36 Networking
Networking
11 Jun 2025

Sub36 Networking

British Jewellery School, Scorton, PR3 1BA

15:00 - 17:00

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference
Net Zero Carbon Social 1200px 2
Networking
18 Jun 2025

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:00

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
02 Apr 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 15:30

People Power: Exclusive Event Series
Stay ahead in 2025.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
29 Apr 2025 - 29 Apr 2025

People Power: Exclusive Event Series

People's History Museum, Manchester, M3 3ER

17:00 - 21:00

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes
Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes for website.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
01 May 2025 - 01 May 2025

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes

Stanley House Hotel, Mellor, Blackburn, BB2 7NP, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

08:00 - 10:30

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – May 2
EV-land-2025-05B.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
02 May 2025 - 02 May 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – May 2

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Manchester Road, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:00

A night at the races
1.png.png
LBV Hub Dinners / Balls
02 May 2025 - 02 May 2025

A night at the races

Morecambe FC, Morecambe, LA4 4TB

19:00 - 23:59

Research and Knowledge Exchange Showcase
13421_research_knowledge_exchange_2025_600x300.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
07 May 2025 - 08 May 2025

Research and Knowledge Exchange Showcase

University of Central Lancashire , Preston, PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more Lbv121 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin