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Research suggests that flexible working arrangements can bring positive impacts to business in the form of:
- increased productivity and encouraged innovation
- increased participation by persons often excluded from the labour market due to carer responsibilities
- higher employee retention
- reduced absenteeism
- greater social responsibility
- increased employee morale
- greater flexibility to manage peaks and troughs of work loads.
Providing a greater work/life balance by supporting flexible working arrangements can assist in attracting and retaining good staff. On occasion, flexible work practices may allow other pursuits associated with architecture, such as teaching, which can in turn benefit the business, research and development. Evidence points to a positive link between high performing organisations and flexible working arrangements.
A common misconception is that flexible work arrangements simply mean a reduction in hours. Arrangements can include part-time hours, altered start and finish times, job-share arrangements and working from home or at a different location.