CIPD conference to set the business case for flexible working

CIPD Flexible Working Conference, 8 March 2007
Millennium Hotel, London Mayfair

Employees who work flexibly are more satisfied with their work, more emotionally engaged, more likely to speak positively about their organisation and less likely to quit, reveals CIPDís 2006 research investigating employee attitudes . Yet only a quarter of employees currently make use of flexible working arrangements.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) is holding a one day Flexible Working Conference to examine the business benefits of flexible working and offer practical solutions to improve take-up levels in UK organisations.

The conference will include the latest CIPD research on flexible working as well as practical case studies that explore different ways of implementing flexible working policies.

Findings from CIPDís research show that most employers are providing flexible working arrangements, yet managers and HR professionals are facing challenges in communicating and implementing their provisions. The CIPD conference will include a seminar from Lynnette Beckett, Change Manager, and Lorna Whiston, Strategy Manager, Britannia Building Society that will offer advice on communicating and engaging employees in flexible working policies. The event will also provide an opportunity for delegates and speakers to discuss and share experiences of the obstacles they face implementing flexible working provisions.

Rebecca Clake, CIPD Organisation and Resourcing Adviser, says: îFlexible working represents an opportunity for both businesses and employees to improve effective working in their organisation. Employers need to ensure that their flexible working policies are not just policies in a handbook, but practices that actually live and are active throughout the organisation.

ìCommunication is important to make sure not only that flexible working arrangements are available but also that employees perceive it wonít damage their career if they take up alternative working arrangements.î

The selection of experts at the CIPDís Flexible Working Conference will also include:

Martin Tiplady, Director of Human Resources, Metropolitan Police Service on managing flexible working

Juliet Crisp Diversity Manager and Andrea Wareing, Flexibility Manager, Tesco on flexible working for an age diverse workforce

Moria Williamson, HR Manager, Scottish Legal Aid Board on effective monitoring and measuring

John McClusky, Human Resources Director, Cabot Financial on balancing organisational and individual needs

Rebecca Clake, Adviser , Organisation and Resourcing, CIPD on the impact of flexible working