One of the more significant misgivings employers have to implementing a flexible working policy is the prospect of not being able to meet their client expectations in a prompt and professional manner – a legitimate concern!

It is essential to any business to provide their clients with the highest service, therefore convention dictates that employees need to be available to meet these requirements. The legal industry is a case in point – law firms have evolved with this mantra remaining at the forefront.

It is therefore refreshing to see an international, award winning law firm piloting a flexible working scheme (See: legalweek.com). Flexible working is by its very nature flexible, it’s a two-way street. When there is a large, time sensitive project with a looming deadline, it’s ‘all hands on deck’. At all other times empowering staff to make a choice regarding their working arrangement seems sensible.

Of course there will be employees who ‘clock-watch’, doing the minimum that they are contractually obliged to. But these people would behave the same way, whether their business had a flexible working policy or not.

The benefits of a flexible working policy to a business far outweigh the negatives – more motivated, productive and contented staff who are more in control of their work-life balance.

Surely that’s a winner all round?