A recent survey of professionals working across Guernsey's business community has revealed that 76 per cent had requested flexible working hours and of those, 90 per cent had had their request granted. Some 77 per cent also agreed that their workplace supported flexible working.
The statistics were from the recent Female Friendly Employment Legislation seminar, hosted by the Women’s Development Forum and debated by lawyers from Mourant Ozannes. The data suggests Guernsey employers are more open to flexibility than is commonly thought.
The session included an active debate on the pros and cons of flexible working, as well as a case study into the practicalities of introducing flexible working policies. The speakers agreed that communication, careful planning and a shift in business culture/mindset were essential for flexible working.
A large number of respondents also thought that offering flexibility enhanced staff retention (93 per cent) and increased productivity (74 per cent).
Risks of flexibility
The speakers also discussed the risks of flexible working if proper policies and procedures are not put in place. A third of respondents thought accessing flexibility still held back women's career progression. A large majority also believed flexibility can cause problems for employers in terms of protecting confidentiality, maintaining profitability and servicing clients and customers.
Mourant Ozannes' Guernsey Managing Partner, Jessica Roland, said: "The findings have been useful in identifying whether businesses should be offering their employees flexible working hours and the possible impacts on businesses.
"We received some interesting information, which revealed that while three quarters had sought flexibility to care for children, a substantial number had also sought flexibility to study or retrain (23 per cent).
"The results suggest that flexibility in the modern age is not exclusively about caring for children, although childcare remains a key driver."
• A link to an infographic summarising these results can be found here
Pictured: Attendees at the Female Friendly Employment Legislation seminar