The business benefits of flexible working

Purpose – Flexible working is a key contributor to business success but is often categorised by the human resource (HR) function as a “family friendly” benefit. If it is introduced strategically it can make a major contribution to the bottom line and to the credibility of HR. this paper aims to look at flexible working and its business benefits. Design/methodology/approach – This paper provides an overview of flexible working and its benefits, with the latter demonstrated through business and individual case studies, and puts forward a model for strategic implementation. Findings – The East Riding of Yorkshire made substantial measurable improvements to the level of service through the introduction of flexible working and turned a department around from failure to award‐winning in a period of two years. Individuals at Vodafone are successfully finding a work/life balance using flexible working options. Originality/value – A well‐managed project plan is required to ensure successful execution of a pilot and the implementation of new working practices across the organisation. The model for strategic implementation in this paper provides a best practice tool.