Gabrielle Thompson
TUC urge bosses to allow for flexible working during a heatwave
ETZ Payments unveil exclusive research showing the demand for flexible working in the UK
22% of Brits switched to working freelance from 9-5 to achieve a better work/life balance, and now feel happier
43% of Brits think that flexible hours are the most important thing to me when choosing a job
35% of Brits would rather have flexible working options than a pay rise
With the summer bringing longer days and hotter temperatures, there is more desire to be out of the office and to work flexibly. This week, during some of the hottest days that the UK has ever seen, the TUC has urged bosses to offer flexible working for the sake of their employees’ health.
The hottest hours of the day are between 10am and 6pm, the hours when most employees in Britain are working in hot conditions and often in uncomfortable uniforms. The hot weather can have strong effects on how productive the UK workforce is with symptoms of heat stress including the inability to concentrate, fatigue and nausea.
As well as soaring temperatures, the summer brings school holidays and many parents will be looking for ways to still work, but also look after their children. According to Bright Horizons and Working Families, more than a third of working parents feel that flexible working isn’t available to them, despite all employees in Britain having the right to request it.
As the need for employers to provide a better work environment is examined, ETZ Payments unveils new research into the demand for flexible working and the impact of flexible.
They surveyed 2000 Brits and found the following:
– 22% of Brits switched to working freelance from 9-5 to achieve a better work/life balance, and now feel happier
– 43% of Brits think that flexible hours are the most important thing to me when choosing a job
– 35% of Brits would rather have flexible working options than a pay rise
– 58% of Brits think that the most popular method of working in the future will be flexible working
Nick Woodward, CEO of ETZ Payments, offers the following commentary:
“Employers need to be malleable as temperatures soar in the UK making it hard for many people to work in a crowded office. Productivity will go down as a direct result of working in hot environments during the warmest hours. Our research shows that for many people flexible hours is more valuable than a pay rise and that for 43% of Brits it is the most important factor for them when choosing employment. This is especially pertinent for parents who have children to look after in during the summer holidays as childcare can be very costly.”
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