Flexible working - and everyone is happy

The CBI recently called for the public sector to encourage flexible working, and for staff and employers to learn from the private sector on cutting costs and safeguarding jobs. With rising fuel costs, the difficulties of finding childcare and the desire by most of us for a better work-life balance, now is the time for the public sector to start offering simple flexible working options, which could help retain staff and keep them engaged. But despite the widespread availability and falling prices of technology that enables flexible working, such as high-speed broadband, wireless headsets and portable communication devices, many employees are still chained to their desks, stuck in a culture of presenteeism rather than the more productive output-based working which accompanies flexible working. Lack of access to the right technology is a blocker but this is usually because bosses are often reluctant to provide it – scared that they will lose control of their work force and productivity will diminish. In fact, our experience shows that the opposite is true. Flexible working is far from a skiver's paradise. By establishing clear policies, managers can prevent both flexible workers and those still based in the office from perceiving flexible working as an easy option. Happy and healthy With annual absence levels in the public sector at around 8.3 days a year, a healthy workforce is crucial to business success. Issues such as repetitive strain injury and chronic back pain as a result of poor posture and stress are among the highest causes. The average worker can spend from 25 to 40 hours a week in a static position in front of a computer or on the phone potentially damaging their posture. This is further compounded by poor lifestyle habits involving long journeys to and from work, and in the worst cases topped off with a TV dinner or a lack of regular exercise. By ensuring office and remote work stations are ergonomically sound, employers can reduce the occurrence of many posture related ailments. Introducing a more flexible working structure that allows staff to better combine and balance their home and work tasks to better suit their individual needs, would help to lower stress levels too. The workplace is also the perfect environment for harbouring and spreading germs. This was evident last year when the country was gripped by swine flu. Although it didn't quite live up to the media hype, it highlighted how employers, especially those the public depend on, should safe-guard employee health and maintain mission critical operations by equipping personnel for remote working. So In the current economic climate the public sector should be helping people work smarter, not harder to retain the best employees and drive recovery at this critical time. Those departments responding and adapting to the way we live now - and trusting staff to get the job done – will be the ones to reap the benefits of a happier and more productive workforce. Paul Clark is managing director of Plantronics