According to the report by conference space provider Regus, trust remains a major hurdle for many companies: 38% of UK businesses only offer flexible working to senior staff.
Those companies embracing flexible working practices are shown to reap major benefits: 40% report improved staff productivity, 67% say staff achieve a better work-life balance and 55% of firms admit flexible working costs less than conventional, fixed office working.
A quarter stated flexible working is 'pivotal' in achieving business scalability as we emerge from recession. Celia Donne, regional director at Regus, said: "It is good news all round that flexible work has become the norm: from employer to employee, from families to wider society and the environment. For the first time, our global report - based on 17,000 respondents, including 4,000 in the UK - provides conclusive statistical evidence on the availability and the significant benefits of flexible working.
"However, by basing the right to flexibility on seniority, some firms are missing huge opportunities and may even alienate new talent that they may have gone to a great effort to attract. With the Government announcing that a taskforce of business leaders and organisations will be appointed to champion the case for flexible working in the private sector, it is disappointing to still see some companies letting trust issues hold them back from flexi-working for all employees.
"It is encouraging, though, that a good proportion of firms see the advantages, even if they are not doing it at the moment, we can expect further growth in flexible working over the decade," said Donne.
