Flexible working can take many forms, such as working reduced hours, working from home, starting and finishing work earlier/later than normal, and job sharing.

Although technology is available to make flexible working effective, from Skype to cloud-based accounting software and tax filing solutions, flexible working has yet to really take off in accounting firms.

However, as the following highlights, flexible working can bring many benefits to a business.

Reduced costs

From an employer perspective, flexible working can offer benefits in terms of saving office space. By having more employees working flexibly, you could change your office layout to incorporate more hot desks and ditch permanent seating plans.

Likewise, if flexible working results in fewer people in the office at any given time, you might even consider downsizing your office space, saving on rental costs and utilities.

Attract and retain talent

There are many reasons why job seekers may want flexible working arrangements. Perhaps they would like to work part-time to spend more time at home with the kids, or they would like to start later and finish earlier so they have a better work-life balance.

Whatever the reason, if you’re an employer that offers flexible work arrangements, you can tap top talent who are specifically looking for a less rigid or office-based work schedule. It can also help your business stay ahead of the curve and build an image as a forward-thinking organization.

As an added bonus, flexible workers tend to feel happier in their position, due to factors such as a higher level of control over when and where they work. And having happier staff means having employees who are less likely to leave.

Improve productivity

By working from home or outside peak hours, flexible workers can save a lot of time commuting because they no longer have to deal with traffic jams and crowded trains to get to work. Some flexible workers choose to use this extra time to work, thereby increasing their productivity.

In addition to saving time traveling to and from the office, reports also suggest that flexible workers in general are more productive.

In 2018, a survey by the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) compared the productivity of two different groups. One set their own hours or place of work, while the other did not. The survey results were very positive in terms of work flexibility and productivity:

“A quarter [of flexible workers] said they worked more hours in their new flexible routine than when they were under normal office hours, putting in an average of 6.7 hours more each week than when they were at their desk.

Additionally, the study reveals that 21% of flexible workers feel “much more productive” after adopting a flexible schedule.

Less absenteeism

Another benefit of having a flexible workforce is reducing the risk of staff taking unexpected time off work. Let’s say, for example, that a 9-5 office worker’s boiler breaks down. This employee will likely need to take time off work to allow a professional into their home to complete the repairs.

On the other hand, if a flexible worker encountered the same problem, they should be able to schedule the repairer’s visit around their workday, meaning no lost work hours and no further delays in meeting customer deadlines.

Everything is not perfect

Although flexible working has many benefits, it is not without its drawbacks.

Returning to the AAT study, 10% of respondents feared being seen as shy by colleagues because they were not regularly present in the office, and 13% feared being passed over for promotions because they ‘were. out of sight, and therefore perhaps out of mind.

While these are areas of concern, the positive impact that flexible working can bring to a business far outweighs the negative effects, and accounting firms considering expanding their flexible workforce may want to take measures to alleviate these concerns.

For example, actively encouraging flexible working arrangements, where senior team members also take advantage of flexible working when it suits them, can help foster a culture that supports a non-traditional approach to working and enable flexible workers to feel more comfortable.

Making the most of technology

Having the right technology in place to ensure flexible working is successful can also help.

Taxfiler, for example, offers award-winning software that accounting firms can use to prepare and file their clients’ accounts and tax returns. As it is cloud-based, flexible workers can easily access and complete client work while they are out of the office.

Additionally, Taxfiler’s practice management software makes it easy to know which staff member has been assigned specific tasks for clients, meaning employees can stay on top of their clients’ deliverables no matter where they are. they be.

For more information on how Taxfiler can help your business, take a look at our online demo.