Member Article

C&W business leaders say there will be no 'one size fits all' to flexible working

Business leaders in Coventry and Warwickshire say there will be no ‘one size fits all’ policy to flexible working after a new survey showed the vast majority of companies will maintain some degree of remote working beyond the Covid-19 crisis.

The British Chambers of Commerce surveyed more than 900 companies about how they have kept trading during the crisis and what plans they have for future working practices.

Around 72 per cent of businesses said they expected to have at least one member of staff working remotely over the next year, while more than half of employees will have some home working as part of their routine.

However, the mental health of staff was cited by 55 per cent of companies as a barrier to remote working, while meeting customers and the necessity for staff to be present to operate equipment were also factors in the need for workers to be in the workplace.

Louise Bennett, CEO of the Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said the survey demonstrated that there was no “one size fits all” model.

“The survey has really highlighted the differing approach, and possibly uncertainly, around how the workplace will change once we are out of the other side of the pandemic,” she said.

“Sector plays a huge part with only 54 per cent of business to consumer (B2C) companies able to offer any sort of remote working options, whereas the figure is at 80 per cent for business-to-business firms (B2B).

“It is clear that business has, in the main, flexed incredibly well to keep trading and that has taken varied forms, be it remote working or staggered hours and there is no question that will shape employment patterns going forward.

“I suspect to what degree depends very much on how the economy bounces back in the next 12 months or so, and how staff settle back in the workplace. I suspect that a similar survey in a year might show some differing results.”

One factor might be colleague relations, as 30 per cent of respondents pointed to fairness to staff whose roles cannot be performed remotely. Firms also cited monitoring productivity (28 per cent), poor internet connectivity (26 per cent) and issues with IT (24 per cent) as barriers to implementing remote working.

There were further sectoral divides in the responses – 53 per cent of manufacturers cited requirement for physical presence to operate equipment, while in B2C service firms the proportion was 35 per cent and B2B service businesses only 16 per cent. Thirty-nine per cent of manufacturers also cited fairness to staff whose roles cannot be done remotely, the figure being 29 per cent for B2C service firms and 25 per cent for B2B services.

British Chambers of Commerce Head of People Policy, Jane Gratton, said: “During the pandemic, many employers have learned how to manage and motivate people working from home. They’ve also experienced the advantages of an agile workforce, in terms of diversity, skills and productivity. It’s vital that businesses have access to clear guidance, information and best practice resources to help them embrace the broadest range of remote, workplace and flexible working options as we emerge from the pandemic.

“These results show that nearly three quarters of firms will now continue to benefit from a remote working option during the coming year. But it’s clear that some firms and individuals are facing barriers to remote working with many employers concerned about the impact on team morale and employee wellbeing.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Matt Joyce .