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SMEs 'must address' flexible working demand

Published On 15 March 2007 at 16:32:17

Small- and medium-sized businesses need to start offering more flexible working options to working parents, according to a new study.

Research carried out by website Working Mums found that 87 per cent of mothers planning to return to work would prefer to work from home than in the office if they could.

Although such a finding is unsurprising, the site's founder Gillian Nissim said: "But what is particularly interesting is the variety of home-working positions that are becoming available to professionals who wish to work from home.

"Technology such as broadband and VoIP is now making home-working a truly viable option for both jobseekers and employers."

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has warned employers that the right to request more flexible working is due to expand to more groups next month and director of HR policy Susan Anderson said the practice "has worked well".

She stressed, however, that companies should be given time to implement flexible working smoothly.

"Only by having a gradual and phased extension can we avoid firms being deluged under a sudden increase in requests," Ms Anderson said.

 

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