Flexible working is more feasible than ever as 86 percent of UK households are found to have access to the internet according to the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS).
With increasing opportunities to work remotely, workplace technology company Condeco Software warns that companies must adapt to this change in work culture or they risk damaging growth and staff morale.
Paul Statham, Founder and CEO of Condeco Software, said:
“UK households now enjoy almost universal access to the internet, which has grown exponentially from 2006 when only 57 percent of households were connected.
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“The impact on our personal lives is obvious, but it has also transformed the way we work. Thanks to cloud-based collaboration and unified communications services such as email and video conferencing, a laptop and internet connection is all that most people need to perform their job. 96 percent of UK knowledge workers that have been given the chance to work from home have taken up the opportunity, and 94 percent would work from home twice a week if they could.
Research from Ernst & Young (EY) reveals that £8.5 billion could be added to the UK from flexible working, through more productive use of available flexible working hours. The professional services firm found that two out of three firms say that flexible working helps motivation, commitment and employee relations.
The report by EY revealed that 8.7million people in the UK want flexible working, while 82 percent of managers believe that flexible working benefits their business.
Statham added:
“Forward-thinking companies are doing away with rows of fixed desks that spend half their time sitting empty and providing their employees with bookable desks and collaboration space that can be used when required. As access to the internet creeps towards 100 percent, these fluid, agile working practices will become the new standard.
“People have become used to the freedom that greater access to the internet brings and they expect this to be reflected at work.”
Steff joined the HRreview editorial team in November 2014. A former event coordinator and manager, Steff has spent several years working in online journalism. She is a graduate of Middlessex University with a BA in Television Production and will complete a Master's degree in Journalism from the University of Westminster in the summer of 2015.
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