Small business bosses who are failing to trust their employees are damaging their chances of developing a talented workforce, according to a new report.
According to a new report by mobile giant Vodafone, owners of small and medium companies are the least trustful of their staff, with many believing that flexible working leads to a lazy workforce.
A survey by Vodafone reveals that almost half of small business employers believe people working from home are less productive, compared to just over a quarter of those at larger corporations.
Also 43 per cent of small employers claimed their staff would be less thorough, compared to 20 per cent at larger firms.
Nearly twice as many small employers than larger ones claimed home working was just an excuse for a day off.
Only 37 per cent of employees at smaller businesses said they were offered flexible working.
The survey was presented in conjunction with the second in a series of Vodafone 'Working Nation' reports and focuses on the relationships between employers and their staff and how best to inspire loyalty.
The report revealed that 80 per cent of employers were aware of the importance of performance related pay in maintaining a happy and motivated workforce, compared to 70 per cent of employees.
However, bosses placed less importance on flexible working practices such as providing child care facilities, with only 43 per cent citing it, compared to 58 per cent of staff.
Tim Osborn-Jones of Henley Management College, said: “In a workplace which is ever more dynamic and where people are more proactive about changing careers the challenge for employers is to ensure they do everything to meet the business needs of the organisation and, at the same, the self-fulfillment needs of the individual.
“If anything, with their size and flexibility, smaller businesses have a unique opportunity to be more innovative than their larger competitors when it comes to the touchstone for personal satisfaction and corporate satisfaction.”
