WORK-LIFE BALANCE
Study reveals flexible working gap
Only half of employees say they can work flexibly, though nearly all organisations claim to offer at least one flexible working arrangement, according to a study by Mercer Human Resource Consulting.
New government legislation, due in April 2003, will give parents the right to request flexible working arrangements. And work-life balance policies such as childcare, flexible work schedules and family leave are now all the rage among enlightened companies in the UK.
But it seems that these initiatives will count for little unless employers achieve line managers' buy-in. As David Tong , a senior consultant at Mercer, explains: "Policies that are developed at corporate level may not receive the support needed from line managers, and are sometimes actively resisted. An effective flexible working policy will often involve a major change in management behaviour. Organisations must therefore build support amongst their front-line managers, and this is best achieved by involving them early in policy development."
Effective communications
Mercer reckons that effective communication is another much overlooked cornerstone of flexible working policies. Says Tong: "There are often gaps between company policies and employee perceptions. Many organisations fail to clearly communicate their policies or support for flexible working. This information is often buried in a company handbook and seldom sees the light of day."
Differences in perceptions of flexible working
As many as 79% of the employees surveyed by Mercer feel that flexible working arrangements are an important factor influencing their commitment and motivation. But this figure disguises marked differences between males and females: 86% of women view flexible working as important compared with only 74% of men.
The greatest support for flexible working is found in the healthcare sector where 62% report they have the opportunity to work flexibly. But only 45% of employees in manufacturing companies indicate they have this opportunity.
Variations are also evident across job functions. Mercer found the greatest accommodation for flexible working in sales and IT departments where two-thirds of employees (65%) said they have the opportunity to work flexibly.
As Tong points out: "Where there is a critical job skills shortage, organisations tend to become more creative and tolerant of flexible working arrangements - necessity becomes the mother of invention."
Staffing levels and work-life balance
Only half the employees surveyed (53%) feel there are enough staff to handle the workload in their department. Says Tong: "Where staffing levels are insufficient to meet work demands, managers are often reluctant to experiment with new working practices. Yet, failure to introduce flexible solutions may result in the loss of skilled employees."
Where the scope for flexible working is lacking, employees may have greater difficulty in maintaining a balance between their work and personal lives. Just half of those surveyed (53%) feel that employees in their organisation are able to maintain a healthy balance between their work and personal lives.
A final word
"Managers have to view flexible working as a method of supporting their business objectives, rather than as a hindrance to performance." - David Tong, senior consultant, Mercer Human Resource Consulting.
Want to know more?
Title: Britain at Work Survey 2002, Mercer Human Resource Consulting.
Methodology: Respondents completed a mail-in survey consisting of 125 questions about their perceptions of their job, organisation, work environment, compensation, benefits, and the management of their organisation. "The weighted survey results are representative of the British workforce across different industry sectors."
Survey sample: The results of Mercer's survey are based on data collected from a sample of over 3,500 working adults in the UK representing a broad cross-section of industries.
Availability: For more details contact Mercer in London on tel: 020 7222 9121.
Mercer Human Resource Consulting is the "largest consulting firm of its type in the UK, helping organisations create business value through their people". It employs over 3,500 staff in 17 office locations in the UK, serving some 7,000 corporate clients. www.mercerhr.com
Posted 17 January 2003