Ryan Bridgman: ‘we are leading the way for flexible working in Europe’

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“We are leading the way for flexible working in Europe,” this is what Ryan Bridgman, regional director of UK & I for Jobrapido said whilst talking to HRreview.

Mr Bridgman explained how Jobrapido’s HQ is in Milan, Italy, where flexible working tends not to be used by employees and is very foreign to them. Mr Bridgman said:

We are leading the way in Europe with flexible working. However, the Scandinavian countries seem to be good at implementing it as well.

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Back in October 2019, Howard Lewis, surface group lead at Microsoft UK said that “flexible working should not be a benefit but a requirement”, as it brings with it a good work-life balance. 

Mr Lewis believes that companies that have strong flexible working have increased productivity, which is becoming increasingly important as the UK is experiencing a consecutive fall in its labour productivity.

He explained how advances in technology have assisted flexible working as it enables employees to take on this form of working. Still, he does caution how ethical rules are needed to guide employees so they know when they should stop working.

When asked about COVID-19 and Brexit Mr Bridgman said:

Logically the virus will pass, Brexit is going to be last for generations.

However, Mr Bridgman did say that the virus could change employers’ mindsets to remote working. Mr Bridgman explained how the definition of normal working may change and that he feels that companies will be pleasantly surprised with the outcome of remote working. 

In response to Brexit, Mr Bridgman said that the job market tends to lag 3-6 months behind the economy. It does provide uncertainty to the UK economy and so candidates are more likely to stay in their role even if they wish to leave due to the market.

Regarding IR35, Mr Bridgman said:

Recruitment is going through a continual transformation and IR35 is just part of that. GDPR was also a big task to go through.

Darius is the editor of HRreview. He has previously worked as a finance reporter for the Daily Express. He studied his journalism masters at Press Association Training and graduated from the University of York with a degree in History.

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