94 • 100 GREAT BUSINESS IDEAS
Allowing employees to be fl exible about exactly where and when
they work can lead to signifi cant improvements in performance and
job satisfaction.
The idea
Sophisticated laptops, wireless internet, a post-baby boomer
generation demand for a healthier work–life balance, and possibly
a shortage of alarm clocks, have resulted in the demand for fl exible
working becoming ever louder.
Advancements in technology have made the option of corporate
fl exibility a reality that is yet to be realized by many organizations.
Telecommunications company Vodafone made t he move to mobilit y
in 2004, when it revolutionized its headquarters, creating a large,
campus-like design with “break-out spaces where meetings can take
place with laptops and notepads out.” Employees were given laptops,
mobile phones, and wireless internet to encourage fl exibility.
Vodafone commented, “people can even sunbathe with their laptop
while they work... even be at home and still work.” The Vodafone
scheme has generally been met with company-wide approval, with
improvements in productivity and performance.
There has never been a better time to make the move to fl exible
working, as it is not just a nice idea but is becoming a necessity—
for example, some countries, including Britain, have introduced
compulsory fl exible working rights legislation for parents. It is
sensible to adapt your organization now to let the social, legal, and
cultural shift toward fl exible working begin working for you.