Report claims that flexibility boosts managers' performance

Job sharing and flexible working by senior managers boosts their performance, according to recent research which counteracts the commonly-held view that these forms of working are not suitable for top managers.

The study found that 70% of senior managers working flexibly or in job shares were perceived by their managers to be out-performing their full-time colleagues.

However, job sharing and flexible working at senior levels is still very rare. Only one in 40 organisations surveyed having managers working in this way. The study, commissioned by the Industrial Society and flexible work company The Resource Connection, looked at 57 flexible workers and 69 pairs of job sharers. Men accounting for only 9% of the flexible workers in the study, and 3% of job-sharers.

Dr John Knell of the Industrial Society said "There have been two significant barriers to flexible working among senior managers. Firstly, employers find it very hard to believe that flexible working amongst their senior executives can work. Secondly, senior managers often regard making such a request as "career death". This research knocks both these misconceptions on the head."

The report calls on the government to promote the case for flexible forms of working, particularly among those in senior positions.

Desperately seeking flexiblity, is available from The Resource Connection, tel: 020 7636 6744.