UK
Hazel Bedson, Marketing & Operations Director, Service Works Global, comments on the new legislation, the flexible working bill, featured here in Facilitate Magazine.
Every facilities management professional should be aware of new legislation that has officially become law this week as it will require more for those in the sector, say those in the industry.
The flexible working bill, which aims “to make provision in relation to the right of employees and other workers to request variations to particular terms and conditions of employment, including working hours, times and locations” gained royal assent this week in the House of Lords. It was welcomed by those in the workplace sector.
Hazel Bedson, marketing and operations director at Service Works Global told Facilitate that the “imminent passing of this bill should be on the radar of every business leader and FM professional”.
Benson added that whilst the flexible working bill is “undoubtedly a huge leap forward in terms of inclusivity for employees, the potential of more staff requesting flexible work could create challenges for business leaders that are unprepared for fluctuating levels of office occupancy”.
She said: “Smart technology and data will be critical tools for leaders that want to understand how and when their spaces are being used. The benefits are numerous, from improved sustainability by only using energy when and where required, through to cost savings by scheduling cleaning and maintenance schedules around quiet times in the office. Tools can be extended for employee use for tasks such as a desk and room booking. Even if more employees opt for flexible work, they have an expectation of their workplace and technology can ensure that is met, making their day run much more smoothly.”
‘Monumental change’
Charlotte Parr, director at Churchill, said the “monumental change with the implementation of the flexible working bill means that the state of flex the FM market has been adapting to is very much here to stay”.
Parr said: “Since the pandemic, FM providers have been working hard to create flexible solutions for our clients that meet the ever-changing demands of the office, but one thing is for certain, now more than ever, we must play our part in creating destinations of choice.”
She added that modern working “is about so much more than the 9-5” but more about “creating workspaces that give people the freedom to create, to feel safe and comfortable and to increase their performance”.
She said Churchill was “working hard to create sustainable destinations and a future-proof environment, which means more collaboration with service partners and building users alike and creating the same sense of community you would feel in your hometown, all while looking at data trends and working with service partners on flexible delivery solutions”.
Parr said the industry was standing “on the edge of a new evolution of workplace experience”.
