UK - Refusal to accommodate flexible working requests costs businesses £2 billion a year (City A.M.)
Posted 30th November 2021 • Written by staffingindustry.com • • • • •
Refusals to accommodate flexible working requests in the UK costs businesses £2 billion a year, reports City A.M., citing data from Pragmatix Advisory and Durham Business School. The report found that flexible working contributes £37 billion to the UK economy annually. However, this could be doubled if companies rolled out more flexible working options. The report from Pragmatix Advisory links flexibility to improved staff morale and productivity, forecasting that a 50% increase could create 51,200 new jobs and unlock £55 billion for the UK economy. Paul Hamer, the CEO of Sir Robert McAlpine, said, 'The misconception that flexible working is only applicable to a select few sectors needs to change. This report demonstrates the glaring benefit to the UK economy if adopted more widely." The government has launched a consultation to reform flexible working regulations, with the results expected to be published early next year.
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