Flexible working 'to become more widespread'

Flexible working will become increasingly popular going forward, an industry figure has said.

Matt Oakley, chairman of the British Council for Offices, stated that companies need to meet the demands of today's young professionals in terms of employment arrangements and the amenities they are given to do their jobs - which could include VoIP solutions.

He claimed that since the onset of the economic downturn, more businesses have used the office as a tool to attract and retain workers and that concerns about sustainability will lead more firms down the flexible working route.

"That doesn't mean that lots of people [will be] working from home all the time, but it is more about employers giving their employees the opportunity to work from the best possible place, whether it be at a desk, from one office or a number of offices," Mr Oakley added.

Andrew Boddington, director of marketing at Return on IT, said recently that companies must decide what technology - which could include VoIP hardware - is essential to their operations and which is not.