A new report has outlined the reasons why many employers are resisting the flexiwork tide.
Although a growing trend in workplaces around the world, many Australian organisations continue to resist offering flexible working hours. While this may generate a stigma of an ‘un-cool’ working environment, a new report by Kronos has revealed the decision isn’t without reason.
Many Australian organisations are fearful that flexible working options will cause disruptions to the working environment. Some are fearful of policy complexities (37%), while others are concerned about additional costs to the business (33%).
These negative perceptions correlate with a high proportion of Australian businesses not offering flexi-time options (54%), not allowing employees to work varied hours (48%), and not supporting rostered/shift work (40%).
The survey examined 500 business decision-makers and 2000 employees across industries such as healthcare, retail and manufacturing.
Kronos stated that organisations not allowing for any form of flexiwork are “closing the door on potential candidates looking for more flexibility”, such as those who are entering parenthood or semi-retirement.
“Current industry opinion and past research indicate that employees attribute their loyalty to the availability of flexible working arrangements,” Peter Harte, vice president of Kronos APAC, said. “By not accommodating more flexible options, employers in Australia are missing out on an opportunity to retain human capital and organisational knowledge.”
