Page 15 - BOSS Today Issue 49

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lexible working, working from home workplace initiative, and there are many However, the benefits for some may
Fand working remotely have been articles now citing the cost and time be drawbacks for others: those living
buzzwords within UK business for a long savings that businesses can accrue from alone may have found it lonely; those
time, but the overwhelming majority these developments: the CIPD suggests furloughed may be worrying about job
of employers have previously viewed that there is strong evidence for how security; those with health conditions
working from home as being less workplace flexibility can “support may have concerns about safety;
productive and hence was made available inclusion, help to reduce the gender pay others may be concerned about elderly
only in exceptional circumstances gap, support sustainability initiatives, family members or balancing childcare
to senior employees that could be attract and retain talented individuals, commitments.
‘trusted’ to actually do some work at increase productivity and support
home. Flexible working requests would wellbeing”. For employees, having the Building on the Benefits
be declined, often with little genuine increased flexibility to fit work around When reviewing how your business
consideration as to the merits or reasons personal lives and caring responsibilities and workforce will operate going
behind them, and perhaps it was also has led to an improvement in work-life forwards, it is important to consult with
perceived as being just too much effort balances, job satisfaction and overall employees to gather their views and
to consider preparing an infrastructure physical and mental wellbeing. opinions. While some will be delighted
to enable home working. Of course, for It is therefore now expected that many to continue with remote working, there
some companies it was genuinely not employees may wish to continue some may be others who are desperate to
a viable option to have home workers degree of home or flexible working on a return to the office and regain some
or remote workers, particularly in the permanent basis: routine and workplace social structure.
manufacturing industry. Consideration should also be given to
n More than 44% of people who answered reviewing current management styles
Making Virtue of Necessity a Direct Line questionnaire said and maintaining the positive changes
However, COVID-19 has certainly pushed working from home at least part of the that will have come from handing
this debate to the forefront. time should be a permanent option. the COVID-19 crisis, such as updating
As companies have been forced to n One in 12 said that they would ask their company policies, placing greater trust
adapt and accommodate home working employer to let them work remotely in employees and embracing a variety of
swiftly to ensure business continuity full-time, although two days per week communication channels.
during COVID-19, it may be increasingly at home was the most popular choice With involvement from their
difficult for employers to turn down (The Independent, 2020). workforce and clear, honest
requests for flexible working going communication, most companies should
forwards. This will particularly be the be able to build on the benefits to their
case where the physical set-up has operations and working culture that
already been implemented during BOSS hosted a webinar on the they have already seen as a result of the
lockdown and employee motivation and Future of Work with generations changes made to adapt to the world of
productivity have proved themselves over expert and historian of COVID-19.
the past months. contemporary values Dr Eliza Filby.
According to the Office for National She gave an insightful presentation To contact your Regional HR Adviser,
Statistics, in April 2020 nearly half on the immediate and long terms click here
(46.6%) of people in employment effects of the current COVID-19
performed some of their work from crisis. For further HR advice visit:
home, with the vast majority (86.0%) www.bossfederation.com/membership-
stating that this was because of To watch the webinar, services/human-resources/
COVID-19. Of course, the long-term click here
sustainability and success of each
business is the ultimate goal for any

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