Employers must adopt a trust based approach to flexible working ⁰

Employers are being urged to create a more inclusive and flexible working environment for their employees by adopting a trust based approach which focuses on the meeting of objectives rather than hours. This is the advice of Harvard University’s Global Leadership award winner Charlotte Sweeney on the launch of National Work/Life Week. In 2015, 23 percent of employees were reported to be doing some of their work remotely, up from 19 percent in 2003 according to the Bureau of Labour Statistics. But more than just adopting agile working, the diversity expert says businesses should begin to focus on individual well-being and supporting employees to enrich all aspects of their lives, their families and their communities. Corporates should implement a trust-based approach, which focuses on employees meeting their objectives, rather than focusing on where they are actually doing the work or even how many hours it takes to complete.

Says Charlotte Sweeney: “Building and maintaining trust is an increasingly critical component of business.   Employers should focus more time on supporting employees to build trust with each other when implementing different ways of working – and not purely the technology required.  Enabling managers to trust that people are being productive when physically not in the office is at the core of evolving our workplaces.”

National Work Life Week is an opportunity for both employers and employees to focus on wellbeing at work and work-life balance.  Employers are being encouraged to use the week to provide a range of relevant activities for staff, and to promote their flexible working policies and practices.

The charity Working Families is providing a toolkit for employers advising employers on you everything they need to know about National Work Life Week and how it can benefit their organisation.