Flexible Working. Is it Here to Stay?

That’s the million dollar question at the moment. Whether it be the boss of ASOS on Radio 5 Live recently, Rishi Sunak giving his opinion, colleagues in the office or social media posts. Everywhere one looks there’s another poll, or opinion. And everyone has questions, how will it work? Is flexible working achievable? Will it affect productivity? Can employees be trusted? The list goes on.

At Cirrus Technology Solutions we believe flexible working is here to stay and should be welcomed. The last 12 months have shown that business can operate, grow and succeed even in challenging times. Mobilising your workforce to incorporate flexible working can in fact make your organisation a more attractive proposition to future employees and clients alike.

Of course some industries and/or roles are more suited to flexible working than others, such as sales. And the IT Industry has had a work from anywhere capability for a while. But there are other ways to incorporate a flexible approach to work too.

Most people think of flexible working as the opportunity to work from home, but it goes much further than that. It can be a shortened working week or the ability to work ‘anywhere’. Or the practical benefits. A reduction in commuting, a better work-life balance, improved mental health of the workforce, even less sick days.

However flexible working is not for everyone, employees can struggle with the isolation and a potential lack of ‘routine’ and this highlights that ‘flexible’ working needs to deliver what it says on the tin.

Cirrus Technology Solutions are an IT Managed Service provider that puts people first, vital when considering the implementation of a flexible working strategy.  There is such a multitude of questions and opinion, that Cirrus have collated 5 things that we would advise any organisation to include in their thought process when considering flexible working.

  1. Has flexible working during the pandemic lead to an increase in productivity?
  2. How do your staff feel about implementing a flexible working strategy?
  3. Cost v Benefit Analysis
  4. Will NOT offering a flexible working environment make recruiting more difficult?
  5. Technology – laptops, softphones, Teams, CyberSecurity. Is it fit for purpose?

Of course these are not the only questions you should be asking, but they will at least give you a solid foundation. And after all, flexible working was always on the agenda, the pandemic has just accelerated the shift.

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