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) and
- 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.