Have you heard of agile working?

Don’t worry, it’s nothing to do with stretching, yoga or being able to put your foot over your head! It’s basically another word for flexible working and it’s something that more and more organisations are seeing the benefits of.

Essentially, it’s a way of working that empowers people to work when, where and how they choose, with maximum flexibility and minimum constraints.

If you or your organisation aren’t taking advantage of agile working, take a look at some of the benefits for both employers and employees.

Agile working for businesses

Top talent LOVES flexible working

For businesses to stay ahead of their competitors, it’s vital that they attract top talent. Whereas in the past salary was thought to be the main driving force behind attracting the best people to an organisation, we now know that there are a lot of other factors.

Flexible working is a major consideration for jobseekers; a recent survey highlighted that according to 70% of organisations, flexible work options are now a key differentiator for new job candidates.*

Why recruit when you can retain?

Recruitment can be a major cost for many businesses, which is why more and more companies are now looking at what they can do to ensure they retain the talent that they already have.

One of the key factors in retaining staff has been found to be agile working. In fact, new research has revealed that 73% of millennial employees would be more loyal to a business if they could work flexibly.**

A flexible workforce can REDUCE costs

With a more flexible workforce, organisations can make significant cost-savings. With employees working from home or elsewhere, less office space is needed. This means there can be savings made on heating and electricity too.

And, not that we’re recommending it, but businesses could also potentially save on salaries. According to one survey, 53% of employees would take a pay cut if they could work from home!†

Agile working for employees

Improved work/life balance

Almost all employees would benefit from the chance to work flexibly. If you regularly commute to work by train or by car, you can’t help but notice that both the railways and the roads are now much, much busier.

With some people travelling for over four hours a day to and from work, giving this time back to them by letting them work from home dramatically increases their work/life balance – and we all know that a happy employee is a productive employee!

Happy employees are productive employees!

Having the choice of where and when to work means that employees can focus on meeting deadlines and producing good work – not on watching the clock tick down until it’s time to battle the traffic to get home.

According to recent research, remote employees tend to be 13% more efficient than those that work exclusively in the office. This suggests that having more control over work leads to increased job satisfaction, and therefore a higher level of productivity.††

Is agile working effective for all businesses?

Having a completely agile workforce isn’t going to be suitable for all businesses.

There will always be certain roles and responsibilities that require certain staff at particular locations at particular times.

However, what can be said is that most organisations could offer more flexible and agile working opportunities to their staff and in doing so help themselves and their employees enjoy the many benefits this popular and effective way of working has to offer.

 

About Chloe Jessamy – Owner and VA at Supportal Business Services Ltd

 

With more than 10 years of experience in the recruitment, construction, retail and telecommunications industries. Chloe has a proven track record of senior-level executive support, management, and training. She has a strong ability to streamline processes, maximise efficiency, and foster professional relationships within organisations.

Her philosophy centres around what role she can play in helping other business owners find solutions. She has always had a passion for business and always enjoys being thrown in at the deep end, a challenge never scares her.

 

*hfx survey (via Personnel Today)
** Digital Mums survey (via Campaign)
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†† Qnnect

About the author

Tristan Potter

Tristan has a decade's worth of experience writing content and copy for organisations across Bristol and the Southwest of England. He has written on a diverse range of topics, including technology, philosophy, politics, and recruitment. His writing has appeared in The Drum, HR Grapevine, and The Guardian, among other publications. He joined Hireserve in March 2022.