ALTERNATIVE WORK
ARRANGEMENTS: THE NEW
NORM?
Is your office becoming a ghost town?
Many work environments may be less
crowded, suggests new research from staffing
firm The Creative Group. More than
three-quarters of advertising and marketing
executives surveyed said their company
offers some form of alternative work arrangement.
The most common is part-time
hours, provided by roughly six in 10 employers.
Flex-time and telecommuting are
available to another 33 per cent and 30 per
cent of professionals, respectively.
The research shows that employees
who work remotely do so an average of
three days a week. But advertising and
marketing executives who are able to telecommute
typically spend only one day a
week off-site.
"As a result of new business demands
and technological advances, more
professionals, especially in the creative industry,
are operating beyond the confines
of the traditional workday and office," said
Deborah Bottineau, senior regional manager
of The Creative Group. "In order
for flexible work arrangements to be effective,
organizations must ensure staff
are equipped with the necessary tools
and processes to keep projects on track
and teams aligned and engaged. When
managing remote workers, leaders must
emphasize open communication and collaboration
among all employees, no matter
where they're located, to keep ideas flowing
and productivity high."
COMPANIES HELPING
EMPLOYEES HIT THE BOOKS
While students begin summer break, many
workers may be headed to the classroom,
recent research suggests. Roughly two-infive
CFOs in a Robert Half Management
Resources survey report their company's
training or professional development budget
is higher this year than last. Only two
per cent cite a decrease.
"Investing in employee professional development
is an essential part of building a
successful team and business," said David
King, Canadian president of Robert Half
Management Resources. "Companies that
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HRPROFESSIONALNOW.CA ❚ JULY 2017 ❚ 9