Getting up to speed with workplace flexibility in SMEs

As a partner in a business, plus an outspoken advocate on workplace flexibility, I am very conscious of practicing what I preach and maintaining a competitive business edge. 

Aequus Partners Workplace Flexibility Survey

Did a new “flexibility” normal get kick-started in the GFC?

If so, what could it mean for the workforce of the future as we move into recovery?

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics suggests that Australia experienced an overall drop in full-time hours and an increase in part-time hours in 2009, and media reports heralded the beginning of a four-day week.  

The question is: were the 2009 employment statistics a short-term workplace adjustment, or did something change fundamentally?  Did the GFC cause employees to question the rat-wheel we had been running on at an ever increasing pace?  Did the GFC give employers an experience of the business benefits of flexibility and confidence that they could “do” part-time work, working from home and purchased leave? 

Looking straight past a golden opportunity to get the work/life balance challenge right

I fear we are looking straight past a golden opportunity. For years Australian employees have talked about the need for greater work/life balance (with an emphasis on getting the life side of the equation right), and employers have resisted by raising concerns about whether flexible work practices might hamper productivity and performance. As a result of changes introduced by the Federal Government in the Fair Work Act 2009, from 1 January 2010 we will have access to a National Employment Standard to help resolve these tensions in a practical way.

Navigating Rocky Business Waters

The best way to navigate rocky business waters is with flexibility: expert opinion. 

Flexibility – Just do it

Implementing flexibility is a challenge and may require some "hand-holding", especially for managers who have not gone through their own flexibility experience.