Study: Flexible Work Encourages Worker Loyalty

Many businesses face the problem of turnover, and though there are a number of factors that affect this issue, an important one that employers can adjust is flexible work. Regus, a global workspace provider, recently conducted a study in its headquarters city of Milton Keynes, located in Buckinghamshire, England, which found that 78 percent of businesses that participated in the poll believed that flexible work led to better employee loyalty.

These findings come as no surprise to managers, who are likely aware of the growing trend of flexible work. These accommodations give workers more control over their work-life blend, allowing them to transition from their professional lives to their personal ones seamlessly.

Develop trust with workers
The common misconception is that flexible work means favoring certain workers, but the reality is that all employees have personal tasks to tend to, which likely fall within traditional working hours. By offering flexibility, workers can schedule their work hours around appointments and other personal obligations.

Furthermore, if employees live far away from the office, commuting may be expensive and doctor’s appointments will take up more time than those of workers who live in the vicinity. Giving staff members the ability to work from home will save time and money for both employees and employers.

Flexibility means trusting workers to handle their workload responsibly. Allowing only a handful of individuals to work from home or have flexible hours may communicate to others that these people are being favored or are more trusted by managers than those who don’t have flexibility. As such, flexible work should be offered to everyone in the company.

Create an understanding environment
Allowing workers to have flexibility is a subtle way for managers to convey empathy. After all, there will always be unavoidable situations that workers can’t prepare for, such as their cars breaking down or bursting pipes. Being able to work from home rather than take a vacation day ensures that employees can still work without sacrificing their paid time off.

There may be individuals in the workforce who are caregivers, either because they have children or relatives who need assistance. Flexible working gives workers the opportunity to be gainfully employed while tending to important personal obligations. Creating a work environment that understands and works with these individuals can make a company stand out and gain loyalty.

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