The green payoff for flexible working arrangements

Big change

If, like most businesses, your staff work at your premises, and start and finish at the same time for five days a week, then adopting more flexible working arrangements is a pretty major change. One that can be fraught with problems. Some staff will openly embrace the extra freedom and work well, others will simply take advantage. However, if you feel that it might suit your business, recent research has identified potential financial benefits and green points on offer to those who go flexible. So are there real savings on offer, or should you think twice?

Survey

Advanced Workplace Associates (AWA), a consultancy firm that specialises in workplace arrangements, recently completed a research project which looked at the benefits associated with flexible working arrangements.

Note. The research looked at 40 companies of various sizes in 14 different business sectors.

What’s on offer?

According to AWA, the primary benefit of changing work practices is that it allows businesses to cut back on office space etc. In fact, savings of up to 30% are achievable. This, quite obviously, will lower heating, lighting and general energy bills.

Tip 1. If you’re in a position to cut the amount of office space you use, i.e. you rent part of an office, a floor etc. on a short-term lease, then initial savings are possible. However, if you’re tied in to a long lease, or you own your building, leaving empty areas is unlikely to lead to huge savings. So we think this is something that looks good in a research project, but in practice, won’t change much, if anything.

Tip 2. Another option to save office space used is to ask staff to hot desk. If staff work flexibly, i.e. some days in the office and some out, then when they’re in the office they use any desk available, rather than having their own designated one. However, before making such a move, consult with staff fully, checking whether this is actually practical. Many will need their own designated space and will not want to share - even if doing so affords them greater flexibility.

Working hours

Another suggestion in this research is to stagger work start and finish times. This will allow staff to avoid peak-time congestion on the roads etc. However, managing flexible start and finish times, is not so easy. In many instances offering flexibility such as this will cause staff management issues, e.g. staff not working their full hours. More importantly, the benefits to you as a business are pretty much non-existent. If anyone saves money, it will be your employees.

In conclusion

In some instances, savings are available. However, for many, the potential to save money and energy will be limited at best.

Tip. If your lease is about to expire, then it may be a good time to look at flexible working. However, if the options with your premises are limited, don’t expect to be able to achieve significant savings.