Survey finds 49% of full-timers want more flexible work arrangements

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) July 10, 2008 -- Recent research by Brisbane-based HR and Change Management consultants Astor Levin across 29 industry sectors indicates that 49% of full-time employees would like to use flexible working arrangements either now (31%) or at a future time (18%). The survey found that 39% of the workforce currently use flexible work arrangements.

With employers in Australia facing a deficit of around 195,000 workers over the next five years*, those not offering flexible work arrangements are very likely to lose out to those that do. Many business owners still want to see everyone busily working away (or appearing to busily work away) at their desk, five or more days a week, believing this is an indication of productivity or commitment. They also feel they can’t ‘control’ what the employee is doing each day if they aren’t sitting in the same building. For businesses that are still stuck in this “old way” of thinking Astor Levin senior consultant Elissa Faint recommends the following actions:

*work out if there is an advantage to offering flexible work arrangements (through eg staff surveys/exit interviews)
*determine the organisation’s goals and whether offering flexibility would have a positive or negative effect
*evaluate the cost impact (including health and safety and legal/insurance implications)
*get ‘buy-in’ to the concept from the management team

Once flexible work arrangements have been adopted an organisation needs to make sure the right policies and procedures are in place, carefully consider who goes on to flexible arrangements (ie based on work and productivity record) and finally run the program - initially at least - on a trial basis.

Ms Faint explains, “The current scarcity of employees in many industry sectors means that employers must take a close look at what they are offering their workforce - if flexible working arrangements would allow them to attract and retain the best candidates they should certainly be considering introducing this to maintain their competitive advantage.”

Astor Levin are holding a series of workshops in Brisbane on change management and equipping managers for change, the first of which is being held on 29th July (more details at www.astorlevin.com).

*Workforce Tomorrow

(ends)

About Astor Levin
Astor Levin Pty Ltd is a Brisbane based human resource and management consultancy firm that provides services to a range of private and public sector clients throughout Australia. The team consists of highly qualified consultants with a mixture of human resource management, business analysis and organisational psychology backgrounds with global experience. Their client base ranges from small business to ASX200 companies. More information at www.astorlevin.com.

For more information please contact David Bateson on +61 (0)7 3901 1055 / +61 (0)402 332287.

change management     flexible work arrangements     human resources