Over 79 per cent of Indian companies report that their productivity has increased as a result of flexible working practices and 77 per cent of them directly link increasing revenues to flexi-working, according to new research from global workplace provider Regus.
Important role
The research that surveyed over 16,000 senior business managers around the world, says workers also report feeling more energised and motivated thanks to flexible working, perhaps indicating why they are able to become more productive and generate more revenue. Flexible working, by improving worker morale and health, is also taking on the important role of a talent retention tool, providing businesses with a valuable way of rewarding and attracting resources.
Quoting its Regional Vice-President, South Asia, a press release from Regus says technology and network improvements as well as worker demands for a better work-life balance have driven flexible working to become the norm rather than the exception.
Across the globe, flexible ways of working are increasingly becoming the norm in business.
In the UK, for example, more than two-thirds of Members of Parliament believe that more needs to be done to help organisations implement flexible working to stimulate economic growth.
US firms
A survey report authored by Ms Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor and Assistant to President Obama for inter-governmental affairs and public engagement, says that if all US firms adopted flexible work schedules, it could result in a saving of $15 billion a year.
In fact, Mr Obama signed the Telework Enhancement Act, providing federal agencies with greater flexibility in the workforce, the study report says.