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Blog posts tagged flexible working
Flexible work arrangements: how the cloud can help
February 09, 2015
If you get your flexible work arrangements right, employees who work from home can be just as productive as those in the office — if not more so.
People who work the regular nine-to-five can find this hard to believe. But as the rise of cloud computing – also sometimes called ‘cloudware’ – has continued, the traditional office setup is starting to look old-fashioned.
Workers can now access all their company resources from almost anywhere in the world, making it easier than ever to agree flexible working arrangements.
Are you scared to shake up your business without being sure changes will benefit your company rather than hinder it? If so, read on to learn how cloud services can help your flexible working arrangements and enable staff to achieve their full potential.
Flexible work arrangements – employee rights
In the UK, workers have the right to request flexible working – including the chance to work from home – if they have been with the same employer for at least 26 weeks.
If the company refuses to make flexible working arrangements without giving sufficient reason, the employee can take the business to a tribunal.
This is a scary thought for any employer, especially those running smaller businesses. But what if it’s just not feasible to let a critical member of staff work away from the office?
Well, employers are encouraged to find a compromise that suits both parties. But you can reject the application for a good business reason.
For example, if you can prove proven that the absence of a particular member of staff will disrupt operations and have a detrimental effect on the business, you can refuse the request.
Retaining talent with flexible working
It’s clear that many desirable employees would prefer to work flexibly, rather that being in an office.
Family commitments, expensive commutes and more contribute to an increased desire to work from home.
As the person in charge, it’s important you don’t allow great candidates to slip through your fingers because of concerns about meeting demands for flexible work arrangements.
Flexible work arrangements via the cloud
Cloudware can help employers make flexible working arrangements without compromising on staff productivity and efficiency.
Depending on which product(s) you use, your workers can be just a click away from everything they need to work from anywhere, including the comfort of their own home.
Cloudware enables employees to access data from several different devices, so workers are no longer limited to their office desktops. They can also stay connected via email or communications tools and access all their business applications, wherever they are.
Are people as productive when working flexibly?
Flexible workers are not necessarily lazier or less productive than their office-bound colleagues.
The evolving sophistication of mobile devices allows us to work from anywhere, but cloudware ensures staff can access what they need to get the job done.
In fact, some studies have shown that an employee’s output can be higher when they have a flexible working arrangement they’re happy with.
Flexible work arrangements: a case study
A study by Harvard Business Review looks at Chinese travel company Ctrip, which gave its staff the opportunity to work from home for nine months.
This resulted in considerable benefits for the business and its employees.
Ctrip saved $1,900(US) per employee on furniture and office space during this time. That’s a significant saving for businesses working to a tight budget.
What’s more, staff completed 13.5% more calls than normal — that’s getting on for an extra working day, every week. They also enjoy far higher job satisfaction.
Similar studies into flexible working arrangements have produced similar results.
Dell’s Global Evolving Workforce study (PDF link) found that, thanks to the increased use of mobile devices, 52% of workers believe they are as productive or more productive when working at home.
Crucially, workers are less stressed and can sleep longer and better when they don’t have to worry about getting up for a lengthy commute.
These results are backed by a flexible working trial at mobile phone giant O2. This followed 3,000 employees as they spent a month working from home.
During this time, staff collectively worked 1,000 extra hours and also spent 1,000 extra hours sleeping or relaxing. They also saved large amounts of money by not travelling.
Flexible working arrangements are growing
In any case, there are signs to suggest the traditional office arrangement is becoming extinct.
Many employees tend to communicate with colleagues and clients via email or instant messaging instead of talking, even when they’re located in the same building.
These communication platforms are easily accessible from home thanks to cloud services, so workers don’t have to miss out just because they’re not physically present.
Instead, they can work from home just as productively, saving money for themselves and the business — and enjoying a better work/life balance.
Copyright © 2015 Compare Cloudware Ltd
How to handle the distractions of the World Cup
June 09, 2014
It's almost upon us. At 9pm on Thursday, Brazil vs. Croatia will kick off the 2014 World Cup. Across England, pubs, bars and companies that make those silly flags for your car will be hoping the national side makes it through the group stage of the competition.
But for most businesses, a major sporting tournament tends to cause disruption rather than providing opportunities.
Outside of working hours
The time difference between the UK and Brazil means most games will be broadcast in the evening or late at night here in the UK. Matches typically kick off some time between 5pm and 11pm, UK time.
As games often won't finish until 1am (and some pubs may stay open later), you might want to consider allowing your employees to start later than normal, rather than having them struggle in tired for an unproductive morning.
Only one of England's three initial games is scheduled during normal working hours. It takes place on 24 June at 5pm.
As the final group game, it has the potential to be a crunch match, so companies in England might want to consider letting staff leave early to see it.
Show staff you value them
It's almost inevitable that the World Cup will prove a distraction to your staff at certain points. And this means the competition can be a good time to show staff that you value them.
Perhaps you can allow more flexible working, so staff members can get home in time to watch their teams. Where practical, try to schedule shifts so staff can watch the matches that are most important to them.
You may also be able to show key games at work, either on the television or via online streaming. If you decide to do this, make sure you have a TV Licence first.
And if you give your staff a bit of leeway so they can enjoy the tournament, you can certainly expect them to give 100% when their team isn't on the telly.
Why it's harder than ever to switch off from work
December 03, 2013
Finding it hard to switch off is not a new phenomenon for business owners.
When you put your heart and soul (not to mention your savings) into something, it’s understandably hard to stop thinking about it — even if it’s the weekend, your holiday or an important family event.
To some extent, that’s just the way it is, and the way it’s always been. Most people know the score when they start their company.
But a new report from Lloyds, Big issues for small businesses (PDF link), has found half the UK’s microbusinesses and sole-traders believe they now work harder than ever. And they think technology is at least partly to blame.
Keeping up in an instant world
The spread of laptops, tablets and smart phones into nearly every aspect of our lives has enabled us to stay connected with our businesses, even outside of working hours.
But as connectivity has improved, it seems customer expectations have sharpened too. Around nine in ten (87%) of business owners surveyed believe that providing a quick response to enquiries is critical to securing new business.
30% feel under pressure to stay constantly connected, just in case they miss out on a lead. And 70% worry that neglecting their online presence puts them at risk of being left behind.
Totally dependent on technology?
If you hadn’t realised it already, the report confirms that many microbusinesses rely on technology completely in order to stay afloat. With all its advantages and drawbacks, technology is here to stay.
However, that doesn’t mean it’s not a source of anxiety. 46% of respondents worry about knowing how to use the latest communication channels. For 28%, just trying to keep up with the latest devices is a worry.
The consequences of all this are predictable. Nearly half (47%) of the business owners surveyed said they’re unable to ever switch off from work completely. Two in five are working longer hours to keep up.
Wasn’t new technology meant to give us more spare time, not less?
Yahoo! Is this the end of home working?
February 27, 2013
One of the hazards Yahoo is saving its home workers from. (Image: dougwoods on Flickr.)
More businesses than ever are embracing home working. Until last week, it even felt like the argument over whether home working is beneficial had been won.
But then a leaked memo revealed that one of the web's trailblazers - Yahoo - is shifting back to a more traditional working environment.
Yahoo's change of tune
AllThingsD.com broke the story by publishing excerpts from the company memo:
“Speed and quality are often sacrificed when we work from home,” reads the memo to employees from HR head Jackie Reses. “We need to be one Yahoo!, and that starts with physically being together.”
Painfully awkward as this is phrased, it means every Yahoo get to your desks stat!
For a company that once led the way but has bounced from problem to crisis in recent years, this seems like an astonishingly backward step.
That's because these days, home working isn't the preserve of software engineers working in cutting-edge roles. It's something nearly everyone in an office-based role can do.
The new culture of flexibility
The ability to work flexibly from home is closely tied to business technology. That technology has reached a point where saying "our IT system can't support it" is no longer a valid excuse.
Quite the opposite, in fact. The shift to cloud computing means it's just as easy for workers to access data from home as it is when they're in the office. There's no need for complicated virtual private networks so staff can log in remotely.
What's more, there are plenty of collaboration tools that can keep your people talking even when they're in different locations.
Home working still has limitations
That's not to say home working is for everyone. For instance, try doing your job as a tree surgeon or dentist from home and see how well that goes.
And while it is possible to operate a business where everyone works flexibly all the time, most companies encourage staff to spend some time in the office. It helps build a feeling of togetherness. This seems to be why Yahoo is clamping down on home working.
But really, if your business mostly involves people using computers in an office, it's likely many of those people could do their jobs every bit as well from home.
They might even work harder and save you some cash on office costs. Isn't that worth thinking about?
Friday Donut tip: finding alternative places to work
July 13, 2012
Do you get to work somewhere like this? (Image: plindberg on Flickr.)
Looking back, some recent IT Donut blog posts sound a little doom laden. We've had mobile phone meltdown, password breaches and even questions about whether you can trust your own employees. It's not that we're paranoid (honest). We just like to think about how to cope in the worst case scenario.
Continuing in the same vein (sorry about that), if there's a serious problem with your business IT - or a disaster that affects your entire premises, like a fire or a flood - then your business continuity plan might encourage you to go and work from somewhere else.
Working from home can be a good option, but these days there are other possibilities too. Free Wi-Fi must surely be available in every town in the UK by now, so here are three ways to find a public place - like a cafe or bar - to work from:
- Check the listings on WorkSnug. WorkSnug is an online tool to help mobile workers find places to work from. Its claim that work is 'not a place we go, it’s a thing we do' might be a little ahead of its time, but it has a tip-top list of places with fast, free Wi-Fi where patrons won't start tutting if you open your laptop. Just tap your postcode into the search and see what comes up.
- Look for a chain. All the best mobile worker friendly cafes and bars I know are independents. I don't why that is - they just are. But if you need free Wi-Fi and you need it fast, head for a chain on the local High Street. Pret a Manger, Cafe Nero, Starbucks and even McDonald's all offer free wireless internet. Busy branches might not be the best places to focus on work, but they're great for catching up on email.
- Use a dongle. You want real freedom to work anywhere? You'll need a mobile broadband dongle. These look just like memory sticks, but contain a mobile phone SIM card. When you plug one into your laptop, they get you online via a 3G mobile phone network. As long as there's mobile coverage, you can get on the internet. Just watch the costs - you usually pay for the amount of data you download.
Do you work from public spaces? How do you find your favourite spots?
Previous Friday Donut tips:
How your business is evolving
January 18, 2012
Work attitudes and practices are evolving rapidly, fuelled by advances in technology and widespread broadband connectivity.
Indeed, perhaps it’s the availability of fast internet connections which is enabling information, ideas and knowledge to flow freely.
Our world of work is being redefined. With it, the expectations of workers and managers in businesses of all sizes are being challenged.
The evolving workforce
To understand how working habits are changing and the impact this will have on companies across the globe, Dell and Intel commissioned a piece of research: The Evolving Workforce. We wanted to learn how the way businesses work is changing.
Part of the research involved polling the workforce itself – approximately 8,000 workers in 11 countries, 1,000 of whom were based in the UK. The results contain some interesting findings for smaller businesses:
- Smaller businesses offer better job stability. Worldwide, employees of small and medium-sized businesses feel their jobs are safe from external threats. They feel stable in their roles; only 25% feel that outsourcing is a threat.
- Smaller companies offer greater job satisfaction. Generally, employees of small and medium-sized businesses are happier at work than people in larger companies. Some employees say this is because they’re able to choose the technology they use. In small and medium-sized businesses, 39% of employees can choose their IT, compared with just 21% at larger companies.
- Employees in smaller businesses are more trusted by their employers. Results from around the world show that 55% of employees from small and medium-sized businesses say they feel their employer listens to them, compared to only 36% at larger companies.
- People working for small and medium-sized businesses have more flexibility and choice in the devices they use. 42% of employees at small and medium-sized companies in Japan believe they’re consulted about technology choices, yet only 31% had positive views of their IT support.
The figure is similar in Mexico, with 40% being more likely to choose their own devices, compared with half that (20%) in large enterprises. This shows how smaller businesses are able to offer more flexibility – an attractive prospect to employees who like to choose the technology they use every day.
Small and medium-sized businesses are blazing a trail in terms of employee-led innovation, but results from our survey suggest the UK lags behind. More than half (53%) of employees say they don’t have the freedom to choose how to work.
By giving workers increased freedom, offering flexible working and a choice of devices, small and medium-sized businesses will increase motivation and, in turn, boost productivity and creativity to stimulate further innovation and growth.
Kevin Peesker is General manager Dell UK and Ireland small and medium business
Could telecommuting get more out of your staff?
February 03, 2011
Research conducted at Brigham Young University has delved into data from over 20,000 IBM employees across 75 countries, with surprising results.
Employees who telecommute (or work from home) not only balance work and personal life better than ‘standard’ office workers, but they manage to work more hours too.
The researchers identified the point where 25% of employees report their work to be interfering with personal or family life.
In some cases, workers who utilised a mix of flexitime and telecommuting were able to work 50% more hours per week before hitting that point. That amounts to a whopping 19 extra hours work over the same seven-day period. Aggregate this over a year and you’ll run out of work for your staff!
So what is telecommuting?
Telecommuting is an arrangement which gives your employees the freedom to work where and when they please. This gives them big flexibility in their working lives, can remove the daily commute and ditches the idea of having a centralised place of work. It's all reliant on a technology network which allows an employee to work anywhere, at any time.
As a business owner, not only can you get more out of each of your employees, but you can also enjoy significant cost savings. Here are just a few benefits of telecommuting:
- Diminished office costs
- Lower travel costs
- A larger talent pool to pick from (telecommuting enable carers, parents and disabled people to be employed more easily)
- Reduced absenteeism.
Couple these benefits with higher employee satisfaction and it is hard to see any downsides to telecommuting. However, they do exist.
Telecommuting caveats
If your employees are to really benefit from telecommuting, they need flexi-time too. Because without some flexibility in working hours, most of the benefits of telecommuting are removed. You simply replace the effort of getting to work at a set hour with the effort of getting to a place of your choosing on time.
You also need to think through how to handle management and performance reviews. To assuage fears that employees would simply abuse the power to work remotely, a results-based system needs to be in place. Instead of individually monitoring employees, their work and goals must be measured solely by results.
You have to trust your staff. Any mistakes in implementing this kind of management style could have an adverse effect on employee productivity. After all, what is the point of getting 19 hours more work a week if they get half as much done?
Have you tried telecommuting?
Implemented correctly, telecommuting can be positive both for you and your team. As someone once summed up: 'work is something you do, not something you travel to'.
So how about it? Do you know of any companies or people that enjoy a telecommuting system? Or do you know someone who struggles and would prosper more in a structured office environment?
John Sollars is MD of Stinkyink.com
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