Employees see flexible working as a smarter way of doing their job and of managing stress in a high intensity environment but are still frustrated by the belief business can lose out as a result, according to Working Families.

The finding comes as Working Families today launches its Lifecycles report into effective employment practices.

It surveyed companies including PricewaterhouseCoopers, Addleshaw Goddard and Herbert Smith and found employees were still frustrated by the belief that flexible working is detrimental.

Employees surveyed in telephone interviews and in focus groups, reported flexible working could be improved if employers introduced more flexible working role models, encouraged managers to build greater competency around flexible working and had more leadership from departmental heads.

Respondents thought managers should initiate discussions with staff about flexible working rather than waiting to be asked, develop better IT solutions to monitor the initiative and attempt to foster more mutually supportive teams in the workplace.

Sarah Jackson, chief executive of Working Families, said: "The development of flexible working is revealed as a key tool for effective management which will have bottom line benefits. Our research demonstrates that flexible working is the right thing - for individuals and for the business."

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