Working from home ‘more important than pay’ among top managers
Flexible working arrangements are one of the main reasons managers stay in their jobs, according to new research from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).
According to the CMI, two in five of over 1,000 managers surveyed said flexible working was one of the main reasons they have decided to stay with their current employer.
Arrangements including remote and hybrid working were revealed to be more important than competitive pay, job security or interesting work.
The CMI’s findings come after first secretary of state Louise Haigh announced new plans on Wednesday to strengthen the right to flexible working with a new policy which will require bosses to have meeting with staff who ask for the arrangements and lay out any compelling rationale for refusing.
The top minister and Burnham ally told a union gathering that business leaders would have to “properly consider” flexibility requests from staff with an in-person meeting to discuss the move.
At the start of the year, ministers also included measures to bolster flexible working arrangements as part of the Employment Rights Bill, which includes policies such as banning zero hour contracts and putting a stop to so-called firing and rehiring.
Petra Wilton, director of policy at the CMI, said managers “need the skills” to strike the balance flexible working requires “as they know that being together as teams has an important role to play, especially when it comes to onboarding new recruits effectively and bolstering team dynamics.”
“Skilled managers recognise this and choose what good looks like for their teams and that includes ensuring employees feel valued and heard when it comes to reasonable flexible working requests,” Wilton said.
Barclays facing backlash over home working overhaul
Among many City firms mandating staff to be in the office more, Barclays is facing growing backlash from its own staff over a decision to tighten its home working policy.
On Thursday, it emerged that thousands of staff have backed a call to throw out the London listed bank’s choice to enforce working in the office three days a week for those who live within a 40 minute commute.
Employees have also reportedly called for a one-off payment to offset the costs for commuting.