Flexible working is on the rise, with an increasing number of businesses adopting a more relaxed attitude to working hours and giving employees the freedom to tailor their working day around their lifestyles.

One study found that a quarter of Brits think the office will no longer exist by 2036 and two thirds (65%) of employees believe working hours will become more flexible overtime. Over half (53%) predict that standard working hours as we currently know them will become altogether outdated.

And yet, 55% of British office workers are still required to stick to designated working hours, despite numerous studies highlighting the benefits of flexible working for both the business and the individual. So what are the most common barriers to flexible working? Here are just a few things that might be preventing you taking the leap.

 

A lack of trust

One of the most common barriers to flexible working is a lack of trust between the employer and their employees.

However, employers may be surprised at just how productive workers can be when they’re given the freedom to work remotely and tailor their working day around their family and social life. When employees have access to a flexible working policy that benefits their health and work/life balance, they’re unlikely to do anything that risks losing such a rewarding way of working. Instead, they’re likely to do more work so they can prove how effective freedom can be.

Dave Coplin, Microsoft’s chief envisioning officer says: “If you set goals for your employees, you need to trust them to achieve it. When that trust exists, the employee feels free to make an informed decision about when and where they will be more productive.”

 

Ineffective technology

To really make the most of a flexible working policy, your company needs the right technology.

From safe and secure cloud-based data storage to collaboration apps that make communication between colleagues seamless, there are a number of different types of technology that can make flexible working even more effective than the traditional office environment.

 

Security concerns

Some employers have reservations about flexible working policies because they’re concerned about the security of the data they hold. For example, if an employee was to lose a device holding valuable company data or confidential client information, this could have a detrimental impact on the company’s productivity, finances and reputation.

Thankfully, with the help of secure collaboration and storage tools, you can ensure your data is safe even if devices fall into the wrong hands. Look out for products offering multiple levels of encryption and the opportunity to revoke access to certain accounts and devices remotely.

Also be sure to emphasise the importance of long and strong passwords that are difficult for both individuals and robots to crack. By ensuring your employees add compliant passwords to each of their accounts, you can add an extra layer of security.