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Stuart Gentle Publisher at Onrec

UK workers still denied flexible working opportunities

Despite the changing business landscape, many UK workers state that their organisations still do not permit flexible working, reveals research by global IT accessories leader Targus. According to the results, a third (32 per cent) of UK workers said they do not have permission to work flexibly at all with 20 per cent of employees admitting it is allowed ‘but not encouraged’.

The research – conducted by OnePoll and carried out in seven countries – provided insight into modern day work challenges faced by employers and employees alike across the continent.

Just 12 per cent of UK employees reported that flexible working is encouraged by their organisation, as well as being provided with smart devices – such as smart phones, tablets and laptops – to work anywhere.

This appears to be reflective of the current situation across Europe where 31 per cent of workers state their organisation still does not permit flexible working. European organisations seem to be making little progress with rectifying this – with 40 per cent of workers claiming their organisation doesn’t provide a comfortable and user-friendly workspace – featuring tech such as standing desks, tailored seating and adjustable screens, for example.

Imbalance in work / life balance takes centre stage in the UK with 12 per cent of workers reporting feeling this aspect of working life is ‘not at all’ valued by their employer. This is in stark contrast to countries such as Spain, where a whopping third (34 per cent) of employees feel appreciated, reporting they feel their work / life balance is ‘very valued’ by their organisation.

Marcus Harvey, Sales Director EMEA at Targus said: “Today’s business landscape is very different to that of just a few years ago. Gone are the days of rigid Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm work day structures. Today’s employees want a fulfilling working experience centred around flexibility – be it from home or on-the-go. The onus thus falls on organisations, who must provide the necessary tech equipment and work spaces to support this and ensure employees feel engaged and cared in their pursuit towards a healthy work / life balance.”

www.targus.com

Methodology

Carried out by International research company, OnePoll, 7,000 employed adults across the UK, France, the Netherlands, Spain, South Africa, Sweden and Finland were surveyed between 5th – 28th December 2017, on their exercise habits. Respondents were both male (3,218) and female (3,782), and between the ages of 18 – 55+.