Flexible working hours and conditions are key to staff retention.
Chamber hears that company policies, not pay or perks are the biggest draw.
Limerick Chamber members heard this week that flexibility in working hours and practices is the number one reason for their employees to move to a competitor.
The results of a survey conducted by Employflex, were discussed at a breakfast briefing held at the Limerick Chamber offices and attended by representatives from organisations of varying sizes, from across the region.
Karen O’Reilly, Founder EmployFlex, says more companies need to look at introducing flexible and remote working policies that can accommodate the needs of parents and those caring for family member “Flexible working arrangements are family friendly, whatever the family’s composition and the responsibilities involved. Having formal, flexible work policies in place and communicating those policies outwardly has multiple positive business benefits”
Speaking at the briefing, Fergus Chawke outlined the challenges employers face when taking the decision to incorporate Flexible work into their organisations and the common misconceptions about what flexible work is. “The EU has recently approved a directive on Work/Life Balance which is the introduction of the right of parents and carers to request flexible working arrangements from their employers. So now is the right time for employers to be thinking about changes they may need to make.”
Dee Ryan, CEO Limerick Chamber said “attracting and retaining ‘sticky’ talent, is the holy grail for employers at present – particularly as members are reporting the loss of promising staff to competitors with better established flexible work policies.”
Responding to the need for guidance, Employflex have developed a flexible work audit as a tool for companies to take a baseline measurement of their current practices and get a starting point for planning. Employflex have also developed a flexible quality mark which is awarded to companies who are truly offering Flexible working solutions.
“This can’t be about paying lip-service to flexibility “ said Maria Treacy a consultant and speaker at the event. “Companies need to embrace an all encompassing shift in how they think about Flexibility. They may need to review their website and social media feeds to look at the gender balance messages they are communicating,” she said. “They may also need to work on their job specs to make them more attractive to all gender groups.
For further information contact Dee Ryan, Limerick Chamber on 087 293 0033 or Fergus Chawke, EmployFlex on 087 144 4677
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