To retain staff be flexiblle

Flexible working and the availability of paternity leave can help firms retain talent and combat staff attrition, it has been claimed.

According to David Bartlett, deputy chief executive of The Fatherhood Institute, allowing workers some leeway to tailor their own employment conditions can make it easier to hold on to better quality staff. He comments that fathers in particular need access to greater workplace flexibility, claiming that there is a "good business case" for such moves.

Mr Bartlett says: "This recession is not going to go on forever, and you could argue 'when is there ever going to be a good time for this' as people are always under pressure. The businesses that are going to survive best are those who can see their long term future, and actually operate strategically and not just tactically."

He claims that flexible working is good for both businesses and for families – two things which he claims are often opposed to each other.

Mr Bartlett adds: "If you have people in work where things aren't going well for them from a family point of view, they are ultimately not going to function very well for you either."

APA strongly supports the principle of flexible workings but reminds readers that flexibility is a two-way street and as employers are encouraged to better understand the needs, wants and external pressures facing staff, then so should employees recognise the changing needs of business. Flexible employment works well where a clear agreement of expectations is reached in advance.

Gareth