New generation gives flexible working thumbs up16 June 2006
More that three quarters of young people say that it is important for potential employers to offer flexible working options, according to recent research for BT Business.
With the graduate recruitment season beginning in earnest this month, the 59 per cent of small business directors that believe they are as able as large organisations to embrace flexible working could reap their rewards, by attracting more candidates of a better calibre.
The research, conducted by YouGov amongst UK workers and employers, indicates that flexible working policies are a valued employee benefit across the age spectrum, but with above average results from the younger age bracket. Almost two thirds of 18 to 29 year-olds surveyed cite a better work/life balance as the main benefit of working flexibly, followed by less stress and fewer travel problems.
The survey also found that 43 per cent of 18 to 29 year-olds are willing to consider lower pay to work at home, compared to 31 per cent of the over 50s. This trend is supported by a DTI survey, which found that 70 per cent of today's graduate job seekers are actively looking for the chance to work flexibly, almost half consider it the most important benefit an employer could offer.
Beatriz Butsana-Sita, of BT Business, said: "For young people today the idea of being in the same office, at the same time, with the same people every day, is just completely out of date. Wireless and mobile technologies and the ability to work effectively away from the office come as second nature to today's generation of graduates. It's increasingly something that they expect from an employer.
"The workforce of the future has been brought up with technology as part of their daily lives. Flexible working allowing a better work/life balance is prized over straight economic affluence. It's something all SME employers should think about.
BT's view is that with the right combination of secure infrastructure, systems and support, any organisation, regardless of size, can ensure its employees, wherever they are, work together effectively.
Butsana-Sita continued: "Flexible working can work for businesses of all sizes; the adoption of converged networks has seen a surge in flexible working practices and aspirations among smaller businesses."
BT has assisted thousands of UK organisations, of every size, in migrating to a more flexible way of working. BT has itself realised savings of £5million per year with the introduction of converged communications systems.
For further information about a business can work more flexibly, customers can order a free copy of the Understanding Convergence guide at: www.bt.com/business/convergence
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