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Evolving HR practices - flexible working

Bar Huberman Editor's message: There are many reasons why employers are embracing flexible working arrangements; the positive impact on productivity and the fact that flexible working is now an expectation among much of the workforce are two compelling reasons. The evolution of technology and the benefits of flexible working to both employers and employees mean that flexible working is here to stay.

But whether flexible working is ingrained into your workplace culture, or it is a more ad hoc practice, as time goes on, people’s expectations may change, your organisation’s needs may evolve, and there may be other relevant changes such as technological advancements and changes in workplace design.

It is therefore important to keep on top of your people’s preferences around flexible working and to find out from line managers if working arrangements are meeting business needs, for example by continuing to conduct workforce surveys.

HR will also still need to keep supporting the workforce with its flexible working arrangements, whether that involves helping line managers to manage their teams effectively or making sure opportunities are available to everyone.

Bar Huberman, principal HR strategy and practice editor

New and updated

  • Date:
    3 October 2024
    Type:
    Commentary and insights

    Right to disconnect: What can the UK learn from other countries?

    The UK Government is seeking to introduce the right to "switch off", which will allow workers to disconnect from work and not be contacted by their employer outside working hours. Labour has indicated that it intends to follow the models in Ireland and Belgium but with the details of the legislation still unclear, what clues can employers glean from these and other countries' approaches to the right to disconnect?

  • Type:
    Leading practice guides

    Flexible working: Making the business case

    Updated to include information on how flexible working can help enable people with various neurodivergent conditions to participate in the workplace.

  • Type:
    Leading practice guides

    Flexible working: What strategy employers can adopt

    Updated to reflect changes to the statutory right to request flexible working process in force from 6 April 2024, and the impact on strategies leading employers can adopt.

  • Type:
    Policies and procedures

    Flexible working requests policy

    Updated to reflect the revised Acas code of practice on requests for flexible working.

  • Date:
    5 October 2023
    Type:
    Commentary and insights

    Hybrid working - the "new normal": What we found out

    Director of Epic HR Gary Cookson recently delivered a webinar for XpertHR entitled Hybrid working - How to personalise the employee experience. During the session, he asked attendees a number of questions about the realities of the new post-Covid world, which is increasingly characterised by hybrid working arrangements.

  • Type:
    Training

    Onboarding a new employee - line manager training

    Enhanced with the addition of a PowerPoint presentation for training purposes.

  • Type:
    Leading practice guides

    Flexible working: Measuring the impact on your organisation

    In this fourth guide, we examine the importance of evaluating flexible working; the timetable for evaluation; which HR metrics to focus on; and how to measure the impact of flexible working in eight key areas.

  • Date:
    4 September 2023
    Type:
    Commentary and insights

    Flexible working request reforms: A guide to updating your policy

    Forthcoming changes to the law on the right to request flexible working mean that employers will have to amend their flexible working requests policy. We set out nine steps for HR professionals to follow when faced with updating their organisation's policy.

  • Type:
    Letters and forms

    Equality impact assessment form

    A model form to conduct an equality impact assessment on a workplace policy, provision, criterion, practice or activity. The form uses the example of a regular review of an organisation's flexible working requests policy.

  • Type:
    Policies and procedures

    Global flexible working policy

    A model policy to promote the use of flexible working throughout your global operation as part of a wider strategy to create an inclusive culture, improve productivity and attract and retain the best talent.

About this topic

HR and legal information and guidance relating to evolving HR practices and flexible working.