The Secret HR Director: It's time for HR to lead by example on flexible working

Once again, flexible working is making the headlines.  Who would have thought it?  In 2015, in a connected world, it is actually possible to do a job but not necessarily by working 9-6 and being in the office all the time!

But try telling some people that – be they CEOs, MDs or fellow HR Directors.  How can you possibly monitor someone’s performance if they’re not in the office?  Your star worker will suddenly be suspected of spending their working from home day down the betting shop or decorating their shed.

Presenteeism is still a competitive sport.  A senior colleague told me once, very proudly, that he was putting in 96 hour weeks.  And if you work in an international role, you’ll probably be called to do conference calls late into the evening yourself.

There are also cultural differences to working flexibly and in different working styles.  I worked in one office that was split between northern and southern Europeans.  The Northern Europeans were thought lazy by the Southerns, as they were always out of the door on time, and many of them worked part-time.  The Northerns thought the Southerns spent their days drinking coffee and chatting.  In fact, both sides were productive but had very different styles.

Here is where HR can really make a difference – by leading on the acceptance of difference and the changes in society.  And there is a business case – time and again it can be proved, statistically, that allow flexibility of working and style actually increases productivity.  Numbers can be your friend here  - happiness leads to successful businesses.   Sickness rates are lowered.

As well as making the business case, a bit of leading by example wouldn’t go amiss.  One of the most dynamic and productive MDs I worked for never worked at weekends, and never worked late.  He took lunch breaks, yet managed to deliver results and manage a huge workload. 

So next time someone suggests you pop out for lunch, or spend a day working from home, say yes.  Your decision making will benefit and you might just come up with your best idea.