Improvements in workplace and personal technology are enabling SMEs to operate with a more mobile workforce. According to IDC, in 2015, more than one third (37%) of the world’s workforce were considered “mobile” or of no fixed location. By 2020, IDC predicts a staggering 73% of the same workforce will be mobile. Most people today […]
In 2015, millennials became the biggest cohort in the Australian workforce [i], signalling a major shift in the way small businesses engage staff. This highly connected, constantly switched-on generation expect instant access to technology which is forcing businesses to rethink the way they work. Offering more flexible work environments will be key to attracting and retaining the best […]
The days of the ‘traditional’ workforce are becoming a fading memory as SMEs evolve. To operate in a lean and efficient manner, and achieve the agility necessary to navigate treacherous waters, businesses are having to build greater flexibility into their employment models. The evolving dynamics of the modern workforce create challenges and unless human resource and payroll departments adapt, the […]
Australia’s most innovative companies are not just innovating for their external customers, they’re also innovating for their internal ones – their staff. Refusing to be like the plumber with the leaky taps, they are turning their innovation efforts inwards. The Australian Financial Review’s 2016 Most Innovative Companies list features groundbreaking innovations ranging from: a courier service that owns […]
‘Office automation’ is a term that arose in the 70s and 80s to describe the way that computers were revolutionising workplaces. These days, our computing power is taken for granted, and office automation now refers to a range of new technologies that are already extremely popular in homes and offices all over the world. If you’re […]
For career-minded mothers, returning to work following the birth of a child can be bittersweet. A return to full-time work often means cutting short quality parenting time and increased childcare costs. On the other hand, if they’re having to deny their professional aspirations and accept a part-time job beneath their expertise, the excitement and financial reward of ‘getting […]
As the owner of an SME, it’s more important than ever in this rapidly-changing business environment to get flexible working schemes right. Compared to ten, or even five years ago, employees are now looking for more of a balance between their personal and work lives. This can be a great thing as flexible working arrangements […]
Flexibility. To many business owners this may sound like a swear word. The prospect of having employees who are not working in the office or not available during work hours on certain days could appear to be more of a hindrance than a help. But if entrepreneurs and small business owners want to attract and […]
Small business owners are on average working seven hours over time per week according to a poll involving over 1000 small and mid-sized businesses by accounting solutions provider, MYOB. While 39 per cent of business owners claimed that flexibility and a balanced lifestyle was more attractive than the financial benefits of operating a business, 59 […]
With the increased uptake of mobile work styles, it is time for managers to recognise the many benefits that lie hand-in-hand for businesses with flexible and mobile teams.
