Why seeing your staff everyday is holding back your business
Flexible working is much in the headlines this week and it prompted me to consider again why it is so important to create organisational cultures that support flexible work. New generations of workers demand it, women returning to work need it and it is everyone’s responsibility to provide the environment and support to facilitate it.
Part of the solution
There is still so much work to do to help organisations create the right culture for flexible working. While 7 in 10 employees want to ask for flexible working actually less than 12% do. For mothers who are looking to return to work the landscape is even more complex with commuting times and childcare (time and cost) to consider as well. The most usual outcome is that mothers remain at home frustrated in their career ambitions. The loss of the knowledge and expertise from such a huge sector of society to UK businesses is huge.
Meanwhile for businesses who would like to offer flexible working it can often mean a step change in culture and leadership mindset.
A focus on ambitious mothers everywhere
As I work as Brand Ambassador with Juliet Turnbull and her team at 2to3days I realise that there is still so much work to do. Juliet set up the business to work with employers to find and recruit just the right talent. They focus on helping ambitious mothers everywhere to ensure that they never have to sacrifice family for a career and vice versa by helping them find flexible opportunities that will still allow them to reach their full potential.
Leverging this talent will reap benefits for women and for businesses alike
By offering a solution that allows both capable and highly skilled mothers to find interesting, meaningful work in a flexible environment as well as allowing companies to harness the talent that has previously languished at home they are paving the way for more flexible working.
The right workplace environment, an inclusive and forward thinking business culture can leverage this talent and reap the long terms benefits. Flexible and inclusive working can can bring rewards for everyone
