Balance of power

By JENNY LITTLE
Updated:

 

THE growing shortage of skilled staff is likely to trigger a workplace revolution, giving employees greater power.

Companies will have to redouble their efforts to keep experienced workers while battling to attract younger recruits. As a result, staff will be able to insist on greater flexibility and control over pay and conditions.

According to Ceridian Centrefile, a human resources solutions provider, the next 16 years will bring a change in the balance of power.

Its report, Surviving And Thriving In The Future World Of Work, predicts that by 2020, businesses will have to rethink the way they work to unlock productivity.

Laurence Collins, a director of Ceridian, says: 'Increasingly, reward and recognition programmes will be negotiated on an individual basis. The balance of power is already shifting towards the employee, who is becoming less tolerant of inflexible working practices.

'This is about more than offering attractive benefits packages tailored to individual needs - employees want to feel a sense of control.'

Some firms have already anticipated future trends with forward-thinking policies. At national law firm Shoosmiths, for example, home and flexible working, as well as the chance to buy extra holidays, are all part of the job for the 1,200 staff.

Alan Corcoran joined the company's office in Reading, Berkshire, five months ago after 11 years in the City.

He says: 'It really is about keeping the people you value happy and having an ethos of working harder, but having a life outside work.

'One member of our staff returning from maternity leave didn't want to carry on full-time, so she will work three days in the office and one day at home.

'Staff can buy up to 33 extra days holiday a year. I never understood the inflexible management style of City firms - flexibility makes good business sense.'

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