Small Business Owners Drive Flexible Working

It may surprise you that 81% of UK small business owners say flexible hours are key to business success, followed by online working (46%). Another point is that 39% of UK small business owners would allow employees to work remotely if they asked for the option and 1 in 5 UK employees would take a pay cut in favour of flexible working.

A new study has been released, “Worldwide Workplace: The Web Commuting Imperative”, reveals how UK small business owners are recognising the role of flexible working practices in business, with almost two-thirds (62%) actively supporting remote working. The independent research, commissioned by Citrix Online, also shows 84% believe offering flexible hours is essential to running a successful business, with 46% stating flexible hours as the key to attracting and retaining the best talent.
Small business owners are keen to adopt flexible working and Web Commuting – using the internet to work from anywhere - personally, with 62% stating they would like the opportunity to work remotely, with the top benefit being the ability to have more control over their day, according to 43% of respondents. They also recognised the benefits of Web Commuting for their employees, identifying greater job satisfaction as the key overall benefit, with 67% agreeing that Web Commuting would appeal to their employees.
Brett Caine, general manager of Citrix Online, confirms: “Flexible working driven by Web Commuting can give businesses an edge ― especially in this difficult economic environment ― since employees can be productive working from anywhere at any time. It also enables them to retain the best talent, improve staff morale, and meet work-life balance needs of their workers,” she continues, “It’s especially encouraging that small business owners are demonstrating a forward-looking approach to flexible working, considering they make up 99% of UK businesses.”
The study questioned 500 UK workers and a further 230 UK small business owners employing 100 people or less, on issues relating to ‘Web Commuting’ - the practice of using the internet in order to work at any time, from anywhere.