Maximizing the Advantages of Flexible Working Arrangements

The Youth I.D.E.A.S. announced its latest report on
“Maximizing the Advantages of Flexible Working Arrangements”

The Youth I.D.E.A.S. (established by HKFYG Youth Research Centre) has released its study on “Maximizing the Advantages of Flexible Working Arrangements”.

A survey on 521 Hong Kong youth aged 20-39 and working full time showed that 43.4% of respondents hoped that their employers would implement flexible working hours. The majority agreed, with an average score of 6.89 out of 10, that flexible working arrangements could enable employees to achieve a work-life balance. 69.4% agreed that flexible working arrangements allow them to have better time management.

The survey also found out that 21.1% of respondents’ employers have already implemented flexible working hours before the Covid-19 pandemic, while 12.7% have allowed them to work from home. During the Covid-19 pandemic, however, only 18.2% respondents could work from home.

Nevertheless, 45.1% of the respondents said they understood that flexible work arrangements might not be suitable for some types of work, and 33.3% found communications with colleagues and/or customers may be affected.30.4% agreed that they might not have the proper technological support for flexible working. Representatives from the business sector pointed out that flexible working arrangements are difficult to be implemented if corporates do not have sufficient human and financial resources to upgrade their infrastructures.

The study recommended the government to enhance the Distance Business Programme, review the existing labour laws on insurance coverage, and reposition the roles and functions of Family Council. Furthermore, it’s suggested that the authority should provide subsidies or tax benefits to awardees in Family-Friendly Employers Award Scheme, and set up employee-based indicators to measure the effectiveness of the implementation of flexible working arrangements in Hong Kong.

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