Only a fifth (23%) of UK workers have acted upon their right to request flexible working since the government legislation was introduced six months ago.
New research from O2 business reveals that despite over half of workers surveyed (54%) being aware of their right to flexible working, many feel that barriers such as lack of trust (31%), business culture (28%) and a lack of resources to work outside the office (28%) prevent them from taking advantage of it.
Paul Lawton, general manager of SMB for O2 Business said:
“It’s encouraging to see more people becoming aware of the right to request legislation since it came into force in June. However, our research shows that the pressure to be seen in the office and a lack of tools to enable remote working are still preventing the benefits that working flexibly brings, such as improved morale, high levels of employer loyalty and productivity gains.
There is now a great choice of business technology and tools available to make this way of working commonplace in 2015 and beyond.”
Just 12 percent of respondents thought their organisation was likely to embrace flexible working in 2015.
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.