More women given flexibility to work part-time: Survey

Flex work arrangements increase productivity, save money

Female employees in Canada indicate more often than male employees that their employer facilitates employees wishing to work part-time (60 per cent versus 44 per cent), according to a recent survey of 400 Canadians by Randstad. These numbers are in line with data from Statistics Canada, showing that in 2010, more than twice as many women as men worked part-time in the country, said Randstad.

"The current needs of our society require flexibility in work schedules. As working mothers and fathers with young children struggle to balance work and family responsibilities, they are more likely to require flexible work arrangements,” said Stacy Parker, vice-president of marketing at Randstad Canada.

In another study conducted earlier this year, Luxembourg-based Regus, polled 117 employers in Canada. The survey results indicate 88 per cent of Canadian businesses are now offering their employees some form of flexible work arrangements. The study also found that 66 per cent of Canadian employers said offering more flexible work arrangements saved them money due to less office space costs and desk sharing due to employees operating from remote locations.

Nearly one-third of the Canadian companies that took part in the survey said allowing flexible working arrangements improves employee productivity.

According to Parker, an organization's ability to offer work arrangement flexibility plays an important role in its ability to recruit, retain and motivate top quality staff.

"Work arrangement flexibility increases an employee's ability to attain a realistic work-life balance. Achieving a healthy work-life balance leads to a decrease in stress levels and work-life conflict, improved loyalty and morale from employees, a boost in productivity and drops in absenteeism," she said.

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