You are here > Home > News
Workers allowed more flexibility for the Olympics
HR News |
31/05/2012
More than half of all UK employers are making changes to their working practices during the Olympics to enable staff to work more flexibly, it has been reported.
Research conducted by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) reveals that many employers are planning to allow greater flexibility for staff so they can avoid potential transport disruption.
Almost three in ten employers say they will try and accommodate requests from employees to work from home, the HR body reported.
Another 17 per cent will extend flexible working opportunities, while 13 per cent will actively encourage staff to work from home.
Rebecca Clake, research adviser at CIPD, said there are "a range of options" available to employers to enable them to balance the requirements of the business with the interests and needs of employees.
“Options such as flexi-time and home working can enable employees in parts of the country likely to face travel disruption as a result of the Olympics to spend their time working rather than stuck in traffic jams or adding to the pressure likely to be faced by our public transport system," she stated.
“Of course some employers, for example, those providing public transport, will face additional demands during the Olympics and will have to manage their workforces carefully to ensure there are sufficient staff to deliver services."
Ms Clake said the key for employers is to plan ahead, set out clearly what the organisation’s approach is and the rationale behind this.
They should then apply any flexible working policies consistently and fairly, she added.
Not all businesses are comfortable with staff working from home or other remote locations, and in such situations, other measures are being implemented.
Some 31 per cent of employers surveyed by the CIPD said they will make TVs available in the workplace and 11 per cent will allow employees to view events online on their work computer.
“Many employers are making provisions to enable employees to watch key events in the workplace, recognising that the Olympics is an opportunity to build morale and employee engagement," Ms Clake stated.
“Again the key is for employers to communicate very clearly what their policy is, for example, whether employees are allowed to keep track of games online or whether they take a zero-tolerance approach."
Posted by Stephen Wilkinson
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HR Recruitment Agency - Transparent Recruitment Fees Since 1999 - 12.5% Fee / 3 Month, 100% Rebate.
Sign up to our e-newsletter service to receive our headline news directly to your inbox
