Flexible Work: But not for everyone

A new study from Eurofound highlights the growth of flexible and remote working in response to COVID-19. The study explores the benefits and drawbacks of flexible work initiatives, including work-life balance, autonomy, productivity, and mental health.

The big picture: The paper examines how EU Member States implement flexible working measures and the potential effects of teleworking on work boundaries.

What's next: The research raises questions about the permanent changes to traditional work structures and the reasons behind the limited increase in flexible working time.

The bottom line: The study underlines the need to consider the impact of flexibility on workforce diversity and the potential creation of a two-tier workforce.

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL

Eurofound paper. It looks at the following questions: 

• Has the pandemic permanently altered the traditional boundaries of work?
• How do EU Member States implement flexible working measures? 
• Why has the widespread adoption of teleworking not been followed by a corresponding increase in flexible working time?

Interesting post on LinkedIn asking if the UK’s right to ask for flexible working risks creating a two-tier workforce.