Employers turn to flexible working to boost productivity

Almost a third of businesses in the UK are turning to flexible working as a means of boosting productivity, new research has found.

According to a survey by trade body Group Risk Development (GRiD), just under a quarter (23 per cent) of employers believe that productivity is a problem within their business and are trying to overcome this by promoting flexible working and investing in the wellbeing and fitness of their staff.

The most popular method for tackling a lack of productivity is to allow employees to work flexibly - either from their own home or for them to work out their hours at times that are better suited to them - with 29 per cent of employers offering flexible working practices.

Other popular methods include improving the wellbeing and fitness of staff. Indeed, 22 per cent of employers said that they are encouraging their staff to be more active, while 18 per cent stated that they are encouraging staff to improve their health. Despite this, however, just six per cent of employers have invested in equipment that can monitor or improve the health of their staff.

The need for the UK to improve its productivity was highlighted by recent data released by the Office for National Statistics. The ONS found that output per hour for the UK is 20 percentage points below the average for the rest of the G7 advanced economies.

Katharine Moxham, a spokesperson for GRiD, commented that ill-health and stress were common problems affecting employees' productivity.

She said: "Group income protection products may seem like an extra step to take, but they are hugely effective in keeping people in the workplace and giving them the support they need. At the end of the day, a business grows on the people behind the ideas and their delivery, so investing the time and effort in ensuring staff retention, support and motivation is kept up is key."

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