Flexible work practices contribute to a more productive workforce

A study by Regus, the world’s largest provider of flexible workplaces, looking into the link between flexible working practices, increased revenues and productivity has revealed that the majority (72 per cent) of global businesses report that increased productivity is a direct result of flexible work arrangements.

Enterprises which adopt flexible work arrangements experience a healthier work environment- Mariella Scicluna

In the majority of cases (68 per cent) firms declare that flexible working has led to staff generating increased revenue. In Malta, unfortunately we still lack this more pro-active vision when it comes to implementing such measures, most particularly in the private sector. The Malta Business Bureau (MBB) is seeking to increase awareness among Maltese enterprises of the benefits of taking on such arrangements via its Shift Project. Moreover, the MBB will also be embarking on a study as to explore the current take-up of such measures and the obstacles which limit these measures within the local private sector.

The European Union has recognised these incentives and is promoting flexibility and security within the labour market as part of its EU 2020 Agenda. Enterprises which adopt flexible work arrangements not only experience a healthier work environment among their employees but lead to higher levels of productivity.

In turn, establishing a system of family-friendly work environments strengthens society and industry across the board. It gives our economy a competitive advantage and the possibility to grow while ensuring the sustainability of our welfare system by creating the possibility for more people and in turn more females to engage in the labour market and retain their jobs and careers.

In light of these developments, the MBB is working to support its members and local business to create a healthy workforce through the implementation of flexible work arrangements. Thus, the MBB is leading the Shift Project, Supporting Human Resources in Family Friendly Training, funded by the Leonardo Mobility PLM Programme. The objective of this project is to support professionals in the human resources field to acquire best practices of flexible work and family friendly arrangements. The project also serves to address the lack of awareness when it comes to innovative methods in implementing such measures within the local private sector.

Thanks to EU assistance, local HR professionals have travelled overseas to countries advanced in the implementation of human resource best practices, namely Denmark and Germany.

This was done to gather on-site knowledge on measures generating a flexible work environment, in hope of having similar measures implemented in the localindustry.

For instance, in the Regus study, 59 per cent of respondents in Germany declared that their company is more productive nowadays, directly as a result of more flexible working and 49 per cent stated that such measures allowed their company to generate more revenue than in the past.

The project is now transitioning to a communications effort as to diffuse knowledge gathered when in Denmark and Germany with other local HR professionals. Beneficiaries of overseas visits will aid the communications exercise by taking part in knowledge-sharing actions. This will also be done through the undertaking of surveys and reviews with local private companies.

Interested individuals will be able to discuss the issue with local HR professionals at a Master Class being led by the MBB during the Foundation for Human Resource Development’s (FHRD) National Annual Conference on October 5.

Ms Scicluna is a Malta Business Bureau executive.