UK businesses are not meeting employees’ demand for flexible working, according to research from UC EXPO 2015.
The ‘State of the Unified Communications and Collaboration nation’ survey revealed that while 80 percent of UK workers believe flexible working should be an option for all, two-thirds of businesses are not facilitating it.
This is despite suggestions that flexible working could bring benefits, with 48 percent of employees believing it would result in increased productivity. Nearly 50 percent argued they would be happier at work if they could work remotely.
It is not just employees who see the potential benefits. 64 percent of C-level executives believe productivity would increase productivity would increase through more flexible working and 80 percent argue that offering flexible working attracts better candidates.
In terms of the obstacles to more flexible and remote working patterns, the survey uncovered that 72 percent saw security as the biggest issue if employees used their own devices for work, despite the fact that 57 percent of workers already user personal accounts to do their job.
Meanwhile, 45 percent were concerned about the cost and complexity of implementing the technology and 45 percent were worried about the employees ‘skiving’.
The news comes ten months after the right to request flexible working was signed into law.
Bradley Maule-ffinch, Director UC Group, Imago Techmedia, comments; "The workplace is changing dramatically and enterprise mobility is becoming a more pervasive reality. The survey shows clear trends that employees are ready for flexible working and that businesses at the very least at C-level realise the need to be more flexible in their offerings to attract the best and brightest digital natives.
"It is vital businesses stop accepting the status quo, and implement the appropriate technology, to not only solve the immediate business concerns of today but the demands of a new generation of workers and business issues of tomorrow."
"It’s clear businesses are still holding back with providing the tools needed by employees to work remotely effectively and efficiently. We see customers every day benefiting from using additional tools in the workplace that increase productivity so we’re excited to see others adopt these practices, said James Campanini, VP of EMEA at Blue Jeans Network.
