During his working day he has three internal and two external meetings. The rest of his time is divided between phone calls, admin and office gossip. His desk is next to the manager's office, perfect for ensuring the boss sees him. Tim delivers £500,000 in sales and has a salary of £40,000pa.
Tina works three days a week. She spends most of that time in client meetings. She appreciates being able to work flexibly as she has a father who needs care. She is therefore engaged in the business and happy to catch up on admin in her spare time so she can spend more time bringing in sales. Tina costs the company £25,000 pa and delivers £650,000 a year.
So whom would you employ? A fifth of employees surveyed for this supplement believe employers would prefer Tim - even if he were less productive. They think managers still want to see people at their desks all the time. Hurrah for presenteeism.
Nearly a quarter of these employees also think their bosses see flexible working as slacking and 27% say their bosses have never told them about any right to request flexible working.
The above scenario is somewhat simplistic - after all, working three out of five days does not truly equate to three-fifths of the headcount. But it does show there is still a belief that work is all about hours in the office rather than outputs. Indeed, there is something about the term flexible working that makes employers turn into Dickensian characters. Granted, we are in a 24/7 global economy and, yes, the majority of people feel society is a poorer place thanks to an imbalance between work and life, in particular family life. But allowing employees to work flexibly? Surely that is a step too far ...
This supplement proves that not only is it not a step too far, but that flexible working is something to embrace and celebrate. It benefits employer, employee and society alike.
Think the recession changes it all? Then think again. Today's employees expect the right to request flexible working and do not see it as something for good times only (p10). As far as they are concerned, flexible working is normal working practice in the 21st century.
Next month the right to request flexible working is extended to parents of children aged up to 16. Are you ready for this? In an exclusive interview with HR, employment minister Pat McFadden explains why the Government chose to make the extension law, despite active lobbying against it by business groups (p4). Still not convinced by the business case? Then, look at the benefits being gained by three employers and their employees (p16-18).
Flexible working is like Marmite. Employers seem to either love it or hate it. But unless you try it you will never know.
