75% of small businesses offer flexible working

01/05/2008

An increasing number of small firms are offering employees the opportunity to work flexibly, a study has found.

Almost three quarters of small businesses are allowing staff to work flexibly, with nearly half adding they believe the government’s plan to extend flexible working to parents of older children is a good idea.

Information company Citrix Online, who commissioned the survey, said the figures were a good indication small businesses are meeting the needs of working parents.

However, they added that smaller firms have expressed concern about some flexible working legislation, with almost 60% saying extending maternity leave would have a negative commercial impact on their business.

Respondents said employee satisfaction, staff retention and providing a work-life balance for working parents were the key benefits to introducing flexible working.

Just 13% believed quality of work would suffer, with less than a third stating additional costs were a ‘primary’ concern.

Denise Tyler, founder of Mother@Work, said it is promising to see businesses recognising the benefits of flexible working and introducing options to help employees.

“Working parents worry about the effect having children will have on their career aspirations,” she said.

Bernardo de Albergaria, vice president and general manager of global marketing and ecommerce at Citrix online, added: “It is very encouraging to note a consensus between UK businesses and parents around flexible working.

“Small businesses are actively exploring ways to enhance employee satisfaction and retention by enabling web commuting.

“Companies can then minimise disruption to their business while allowing parents flexibility to achieve a rewarding home life as well as momentum in their career,” he said.