15 Oct Moving towards flexibility

Posted at 08:30h in Insights by Charles Handley

15 October 2018

Increased morale, engagement and commitment from staff and a greater sense of work/life balance are just some of the benefits of flexible working. As a result, firms continue to focus on offering flexible working arrangements such as compressed working weeks, earlier or later start times and working from home.

Providing modern working environments (e.g. open plan desks where teams sit together, breakout rooms for impromptu meetings and quiet rooms for periods of concentration) with sophisticated, cutting-edge technology and options to work away from your desk in different surroundings, can also serve as motivating factors, particularly with roles that don’t allow for as much flexibility such as bidding and tender roles.

Flexible working in action

The Big Four in Australia are taking the lead in inventive work methods included activity-based meetings (such as PwC’s treadmill meetings) and impressive workplace programs, including:

  • Deloitte’s 20-week Return to Work Program (currently run in Sydney and Melbourne);
  • the option to purchase FLEXleave – up to six weeks extra holiday – at EY;
  • work your hours at KPMG;
  • and Grant Thornton’s early access to long service leave.

Law and engineering firms are catching up too:

  • Emergency child care services at King & Wood Mallesons;
  • the Flexibility@Corrs program;
  • Herbert Smith Freehills’ innovation centre;
  • and Aurecon’s Yes Flex

“Accessibility and delivery are the most important things. Hiring the right people means that they will embrace the flexibility of a firm like Landers while driving high performance in everything they do.”
Sarah Stubbs, Director of Business Development and Marketing – Lander & Rogers (and strong believer in working hard while having time for family and personal interests)

In summary

  • Many professionals are seeking nine-day fortnights, regular working-from-home days and truly flexible working hours.
  • Family commitments are the main factors, however, increasingly professionals want extra time to pursue personal interests and hobbies.
  • Flexible working arrangements enhance productivity and output and contribute to a healthy work-life balance.
  • Technology is a big enabler and allows professionals to work from anywhere.

Next steps

Want to know more about how you can take advantage of flexible working? Contact Dalton Handley for a confidential discussion and expert advice.