Over half of UK workers ready to take advantage of new flexible working laws
A recent survey from Slack indicated that 55 per cent of workers intend to request flexible work arrangements now that the Flexible Working (Amendment) Regulations 2023 have come into effect.
As human resources departments around the country braced themselves for an influx of requests, many were also urging employees to think beyond remote working, and look at the idea of flexible working more broadly.
In addition to location-based flexibility – like working from home or from anywhere in the world a particular number of days per annum – flexible working can also apply to various work schedules and hours, such as compressed hours, term-time, part-time work, flexi time, and changing start and finish times.
Flex appeal
As it enables easy communication and project collaboration remotely, it’s not surprising that Slack has a keen interest in examining flexible working.
Its most recent ‘Future of Work’ report chimes with HR departments pushing to look beyond when it comes to flexible working:
“Flexibility is so much more than location; it’s also how and when we work. That means thinking carefully about office design and work schedules, and being intentional over which environments are best for specific tasks.
“There’s a time and place for everything, and the organisations with the highest productivity have taken the time to consider what goes where,” the report states.
Contributing to the research, Donal Knight, chief people officer at Greenhouse Software stressed that “companies are now measuring success through their overall organisational and employee health. The key is developing leaders who embody a culture that exhibits flexibility and trust.”
The report shows that flexible work arrangements can lead to increased concentration and productivity when implemented thoughtfully.
In-person collaboration has its place and is something that employees express a want to utilise for brainstorming, community building, and team decision-making, but there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
Three things were identified as “more productive” in the office; brainstorming as a team, making decisions that involve others, and feeling a sense of community and belonging.
Some 77 per cent agreed that in-office days are best synched with their teammates to improve productivity, but more than half of these respondents say their team is geographically distributed across multiple locations so even if they coordinate team days, it isn’t always from the same office.
The report found that in the UK, the best way employers can drive productivity is through flexible work schedules.
If flexible working is important to you, but your workplace isn’t flexible or trusting, it could be time to find something new. Check out the Alternative Credit Investor job board to see thousands of jobs all across the UK, like the three below.
Quantitative Finance Analyst, Bank of America, Bromley
Bank of America’s bustling Bromley office is hiring for a Quantitative Finance Analyst to conduct quantitative analytics and modelling projects for specific business units or risk types. Central to this role include developing new models, analytic processes and system approaches, creating technical documentation for related activities, and working with the technology staff in the design of systems.
Ideally, you’ll have a PhD in a quantitative field, but strong candidates with Master’s degrees and seasoned industry experience will also be considered. The role comes with a number of benefits, including private healthcare for you and your family, and 20 days of back-up childcare. Read more here.
Finance Integrations Manager, Ripple, London
Providing crypto solutions for financial institutions, businesses, governments and developers, Ripple offers career growth opportunities in a newish and rapidly-developing space. Now hiring a Finance Integrations Manager, this hire will play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between business needs and technical solutions for its financial services team.
You’ll bring five or more years’ experience in Python, Pandas, NumPy, SQL and RDMS concepts and design, plus over three years of experience in web services and REST APIs, and two years in Javascript or Google Apps Script. Apply here.
Finance Manager – PPUK, PayPal, London
The Finance Manager – PPUK job is an exciting newly created opportunity within PayPal’s UK licensed entity, and will see you supporting the head of finance PayPal UK in supervising the financial, accounting, audit and regulatory requirements of the entity.
You will play a pivotal role in supervising financial operations, overseeing everything from financial statement production and audits to regulatory compliance, ensuring the entity’s fiscal health remains robust, partnering closely with the Global Finance team and local management to deliver key results.
You’ll need a degree in accounting, finance or a related field (MBA preferred), as well as a recognised professional accounting designation (ACA, ACCA, CIMA), plus five or more years’ of experience in a regulated UK financial services firm or equivalent, with experience in payments, banking or electronic money institutions. Find out more.
Article written by Amanda Kavanagh at Amply
