Small firms shunning flexible working

A study by Inter-Tel found that 66 per cent of UK employers did not offer flexible working, even though a third admitted it would make it easier to recruit quality staff.

One in three firms said they did not use flexible working because it did not suit the business’ needs, while a quarter said that it would take too much re-organising to allow staff to work from home.

Despite this, Inter-Tel said that 82 per cent of small businesses had the technology in place for remote access to IT networks and voicemail, although just 23 per cent had a system that allowed them to create a complete virtual office environment.

The survey found that 40 per cent of small firms had difficulty in finding the right employees in their local area, severely hampering their progress.

A further 23 per cent said that they were restricted by poor transport links.

Since April last year, employers have been required to consider a flexible working request for parents of young or disabled children.

Firms have also been advised to consider home working for other staff to help cut costs. However, studies have shown that while the new laws have not caused major workplace problems, many employers still do not offer flexible working to staff.

Chris Harris, managing director of Inter-Tel, said that the existence of small firms was under threat from the lack of skills and poor transport links.

“Remote and home working are perhaps the two most viable ways for small firms to counteract the trend. There’s no reason why a company based in Bath can’t have access to the skills base in Birmingham through a flexi-working operation.

“By offering staff more flexible working hours or the chance to work from home, immediately the skills horizon broadens and in turn help overcome associated trends of lateness, absenteeism, stress and low productivity.

“Most companies already have the technology to make flexi-working a reality, and those that don’t can readily and cheaply attain it,” he said.