Flexible working options can produce benefits to employees like experiencing less stress and more happiness, but only 53 percent of small businesses allow workers to work anytime and anywhere, according to a survey.
To understand the state of flexible working, Office supplies retailer Officeworks conducted a survey on 1000 employees across Australia.
Survey results showed that 34 percent would love to experience flexible work options, but only 49 percent of these respondents were offered flexible work arrangements, which include working away from the office and hot desking.
Out of these respondents who were offered flexible work arrangements, 44 percent said they experienced less stress, 42 percent felt they became more productive, and 40 percent said they were feeling happier.
Regarding to respondents who are small business owners, 85 percent want to work away from the office at least once a month. Then out of these small business owners, 37% percent answered less stress, while 36 percent answered for both less traveling time and more happiness as top perks, respectively.
Officeworks spokesperson, Psychologist Dr. Suzy Green of the Positivity Institute, said the working industry is evolving, thus employees must be in-sync with the changing needs of the workforce.
“The Officeworks research results and associated supporting scientific studies demonstrate that working flexibly is a win-win situation for both employees and employers – delivering a more productive, focused and happier workforce,” she said.
Even though 32 percent of respondents considered the need to meet with their clients personally and 29 percent engages with colleagues as barriers for them, businesses can overcome these obstacles by giving technological access that enables virtual communication to employees.
“Offering employees the opportunity to shape how they work provides significant psychological benefits and autonomy. As well as overall wellbeing, other aspects like job satisfaction, staff retention and cost savings can also be attributed to this way of working, all of which should be hugely important to small business owners,” Green said.
As the current of the workforce keeps changing, business brokers victoria should be able to adapt to these changes to have happier and less stressed employees to get the job done. There are many ways to adapt, like giving technological access that enables virtual communication to employees.
