Time4Balance » Blog Archive » Productivity increases from flexible working

BT reaps 20% productivity from flexible working, despite some resistance from line managers.

Anna Kavanagh says:
"I am always keen to find articles and surveys on measuring the benefits of flexible working. Many people who resist the whole culture of flexible working seek to cite all the problems and ignore or overlook the benefits. As many of the benefits are intangible (people just often feel "happier" for example), it is often challenging to help them see past their block.

Many employers want to see tangible benefits before they will consider investing any time or funding to exploring the viability of flexible working practices…

Anna Kavanagh says (CONTINUED):

Clearly an increase in productivity
is a big incentive, but measuring productivity can be challenging in
itself. What is "productivity increase" for example in a customer
service centre? Is it more customers seen or better quality of service?

One
of the reasons why flexible working may fail is because line managers
do not support the changes. This is an extremely common problem as the
article about BT illustrates…"

BT has admitted that it had to replace line managers as it overhauled its working culture to become a leader in flexible working.

Last month, the telecommunications giant was held up as a golden example of what flexible working can achieve by campaigning body Work Wise UK.

BT claimed it has secured a 20% increase in productivity since 2001 by allowing 80% of staff to work outside the office for at least one day per week.

But the firm’s group strategy director, Clive Ansell, told Personnel Today that it was not easy to bring in these changes. “There were teething problems. It was a training of managers issue,” he said.

“You have to go up several levels of management, and there is a trust issue: ‘If I can’t see you, I don’t know you are working’.”

Pushed on whether BT had to dismiss some line managers who refused to accept flexible working, Ansell replied: “In some of the earlier moves, we had to make some changes. We had to bring some people in.”

But the changes have brought immense benefits to the company, as well as cutting congestion and carbon emissions by reducing car journeys, according to Ansell.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development has joined forces
with the British Chambers of Commerce to offer help for small businesses in developing flexible working practices.