There have been a long list of studies trumpeting the virtues of flexible working, with one of the first revealing that flexible workers were generally a whole lot more productive than their 9-to-5 peers.

Over a nine month period they found that flexible workers:

• achieved more
• were off sick less often
• worked longer hours
• were happier in their work

These findings were replicated in a recent study conducted inside a Fortune 500 company.

It found that employees who were placed on a flexibility program were both happier at work and less prone to burnout and psychological stress than their colleagues who were not on the program.

Equal access

Of course, access to flexible work is far from equal, with previous studies highlighting that it is overwhelmingly the preserve of higher skilled workers.  A recent paper, from the University of Kent, suggests there are also stark differences in access depending on the gender makeup of the workplace.

It found that in workplaces where the majority of workers are female, there were less flexible working opportunities available than in gender-neutral or even male-dominated workplaces.

The paper suggests there may be a correlation between the two studies, as female-dominated workplaces are often lower wage workplaces, with low wages typically accompanied by worse working conditions.

The study, which was conducted across 27 countries across the EU, suggests the ideal environment for flexible working to thrive is one where men and women were equally represented in the workplace.

The authors believe that their work dispels the notion that female managers will be more understanding of the advantages of flexible working arrangements and therefore provide it in greater abundance.

It also dismisses the notion that lower wages in female-dominated workplaces can be compensated for by flexible and family-friendly work arrangements that don’t appear to exist.

It underlines the fact that those who might benefit the most from flexible working are often those least able to access it, and more needs to be done to rectify matters.