Individuals and line managers who may have some concerns around the concept of agile working may wish to note some of the benefits that agile working is likely to bring:

• improving staff engagement and wellbeing: agile working enables colleagues to have more autonomy over work and is believed to increase motivation and wellbeing, including mental health
• attracting and retaining our talented staff: provides a key competitive advantage in staff recruitment and retention, attracting new staff to an organisation which ensures an appropriate work-life balance and retaining skilled colleagues who may otherwise leave to pursue work more suited to their home life or those with caring responsibilities*
• enhancing flexibility of service / customer satisfaction: allows Strathclyde staff to work more flexibly; this may allow them to be better positioned to react to organisational needs, provide better student experience and customer service and provide work at non-core times where this suits their needs
• increasing staff productivity / efficiency: enhances productivity, efficiency and focus of staff as they enjoy a working relationship which allows them to have appropriate control and freedom to balance their work and private lives
• improving business continuity: better ensures business continuity, for example in the event of severe weather conditions or a global pandemic
• reducing absenteeism and turnover: saves the costs of increased turnover and absentee costs, which can occur when flexibility is not available
• utilising estate more effectively: allows for better use of space and potentially costs associated with Strathclyde’s estate (including buildings and parking facilities)
• contributing to environmental aims: assists with Strathclyde’s ambitious targets to reduce its carbon footprint as there is less need for more regular staff travel

*Those with caring responsibilities should also be aware of the various support mechanisms the University offers to carers - see the Carer webpages.