More than half of employers to allow flexibility during Olympics

More than half of employers are making changes to their working practices during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to enable staff to work more flexibly, according to research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

The annual CIPD/Hays resourcing and talent planning survey also found that 30% of respondents will allow employees to work from home where requested.

It also found that 31% of respondents said they will make televisions available in the workplace and 11% said they will allow staff to watch the events online.

The research has been released as the CIPD launches guidance called Sporting events and absence management, which highlights the range of options employers can consider to minimise disruption to the business and help employees make the most of events, such as the Olympics and the European Football Championships.

Rebecca Clake, research adviser at the CIPD, said: “There are a range of options available to employers to enable them to balance the requirements of the business with the interests and needs of employees.

“Options such as flexi-time and home working can enable employees in parts of the country likely to face travel disruption as a result of the Olympics to spend their time working rather than stuck in traffic jams or adding to the pressure likely to be faced by our public transport system.

Barney Ely, director at Hays, added: “The Olympics is a golden opportunity for UK businesses to review their flexible working policies to ensure they are supporting their staff.

“Communication is key to ensure both parties clearly understand and adhere to the guidelines around flexible working. By embracing this exciting time, businesses will benefit from more engaged employees.”