100 Great Business Ideas: From Leading Companies Around the World (100 Great Ideas)

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100 GREAT BUSINESS IDEAS • 95

In practice



  • Market your fl exible working options to potential employees—
    this can help recruit graduates and give your company a valuable
    selling point when competing for the best workers.

  • Flexible working does not mean sacrifi cing important deadlines
    or performance. Give your employees goals and responsibilities,
    not schedules.

  • Job sharing, where two or more people are employed in one role
    part-time, can provide increased fl exibility.

  • Be prepared for a fl atter organizational structure that can result
    from fl exible working—open plan and fl uid working environments
    tend to break down physical barriers and hierarchies. This can
    be met by resistance from senior managers.

  • Manage the transition. Many workers may be wary of change,
    and others may be unsure of how to cope with the new challenges
    it brings. Educate employees on how to get the most out of
    the changes.

  • Flexible working is not suitable for everyone. Some employees
    work better in an environment with an element of rigidity.

  • Use it as an opportunity to decrease costs and reduce transport
    expenses by holding meetings via telephone and IM (instant
    messaging) technology.

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