{"id":34344,"date":"2025-08-18T13:56:56","date_gmt":"2025-08-18T13:56:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/work.life\/?p=34344"},"modified":"2025-08-18T13:57:30","modified_gmt":"2025-08-18T13:57:30","slug":"insights-for-smes-on-flexible-working","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/work.life\/blog\/insights-for-smes-on-flexible-working\/","title":{"rendered":"How big companies are making flexible working actually work"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Quick Links<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/work.life\/blog\/insights-for-smes-on-flexible-working\/#BT_Groups_%E2%80%9Cthree_together_two_wherever%E2%80%9D_policy\" >BT Group&#8217;s &#8220;three together, two wherever&#8221; policy<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/work.life\/blog\/insights-for-smes-on-flexible-working\/#BTs_flexible_working_model\" >BT&#8217;s flexible working model<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/work.life\/blog\/insights-for-smes-on-flexible-working\/#Why_BTs_hybrid_strategy_works\" >Why BT&#8217;s hybrid strategy works<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/work.life\/blog\/insights-for-smes-on-flexible-working\/#Lessons_for_SMEs_from_BTs_hybrid_work_success\" >Lessons for SMEs from BT&#8217;s hybrid work success<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/work.life\/blog\/insights-for-smes-on-flexible-working\/#Unilevers_revolutionary_%E2%80%9CU-Work%E2%80%9D_and_hybrid_work_model\" >Unilever&#8217;s revolutionary &#8220;U-Work&#8221; and hybrid work model<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/work.life\/blog\/insights-for-smes-on-flexible-working\/#Unilevers_innovative_flexible_work_strategy\" >Unilever&#8217;s innovative flexible work strategy<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/work.life\/blog\/insights-for-smes-on-flexible-working\/#Business_benefits_of_Unilevers_approach\" >Business benefits of Unilever&#8217;s approach<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/work.life\/blog\/insights-for-smes-on-flexible-working\/#How_SMEs_can_apply_Unilevers_flexible_work_model_to_their_own_business\" >How SME&#8217;s can apply Unilever&#8217;s flexible work model to their own business<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/work.life\/blog\/insights-for-smes-on-flexible-working\/#Tescos_retail_innovation_in_flexible_working_policies\" >Tesco&#8217;s retail innovation in flexible working policies<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/work.life\/blog\/insights-for-smes-on-flexible-working\/#Tescos_comprehensive_policies\" >Tesco&#8217;s comprehensive policies<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/work.life\/blog\/insights-for-smes-on-flexible-working\/#Tech-enabled_flexible_work_solutions\" >Tech-enabled flexible work solutions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/work.life\/blog\/insights-for-smes-on-flexible-working\/#Insights_for_SMEs_based_on_Tescos_success\" >Insights for SME&#8217;s based on Tesco&#8217;s success<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/work.life\/blog\/insights-for-smes-on-flexible-working\/#Real-world_benefits_and_challenges_of_flexible_working_policies\" >Real-world benefits and challenges of flexible working policies<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/work.life\/blog\/insights-for-smes-on-flexible-working\/#Benefits\" >Benefits\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/work.life\/blog\/insights-for-smes-on-flexible-working\/#Challenges\" >Challenges<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/work.life\/blog\/insights-for-smes-on-flexible-working\/#A_practical_plan_for_implementation\" >A practical plan for implementation<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/work.life\/blog\/insights-for-smes-on-flexible-working\/#Start_small\" >Start small\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/work.life\/blog\/insights-for-smes-on-flexible-working\/#Align_with_business_needs\" >Align with business needs<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/work.life\/blog\/insights-for-smes-on-flexible-working\/#The_essentials\" >The essentials\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/work.life\/blog\/insights-for-smes-on-flexible-working\/#Measuring_success\" >Measuring success<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/work.life\/blog\/insights-for-smes-on-flexible-working\/#Forward-planning\" >Forward-planning\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/work.life\/blog\/insights-for-smes-on-flexible-working\/#The_strategic_value_of_flexible_working_for_SMEs\" >The strategic value of flexible working for SMEs<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/work.life\/blog\/insights-for-smes-on-flexible-working\/#How_we_can_help\" >How we can help<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0revolution<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> isn&#8217;t just happening in Silicon Valley startups or trendy creative agencies. Some of Britain&#8217;s most traditional companies &#8211; from telecoms giants to supermarket chains &#8212; are quietly rewriting the rules of work with <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hybrid work policies<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that actually deliver results.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;re running a small or medium business and wondering whether <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">remote work arrangements<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> could work for your company, you&#8217;re not alone. The good news? You don&#8217;t need a massive HR department or unlimited budget to implement <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">effective workplace flexibility<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Britain&#8217;s corporate giants have tested what works (and what doesn&#8217;t), creating <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">flexible work strategies<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that smaller businesses can adapt.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here&#8217;s what three very different British companies have learned about making <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hybrid working models<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> genuinely effective &#8211; and how you can apply their insights to boost your own <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">employee productivity<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and retention.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"BT_Groups_%E2%80%9Cthree_together_two_wherever%E2%80%9D_policy\"><\/span><b>BT Group&#8217;s &#8220;three together, two wherever&#8221; policy<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BT Group isn&#8217;t exactly known for being cutting-edge when it comes to <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">workplace trends<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. But their approach to <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hybrid working arrangements<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is surprisingly practical &#8211; and it&#8217;s delivering measurable results.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"BTs_flexible_working_model\"><\/span><b>BT&#8217;s flexible working model<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BT&#8217;s <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hybrid work policy<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is refreshingly simple: <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">three days in the office, two days remote work<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. No complicated formulas, no endless negotiations about which days. Just clear expectations that balance face-to-face collaboration with the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">work-life balance<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> employees demand.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CEO Allison Kirkby implemented this <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">structured hybrid model<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in late 2024, tracking compliance through employee pass cards. While this might sound restrictive, it&#8217;s actually quite smart &#8211; everyone knows exactly what&#8217;s expected from their <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">flexible work arrangements<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_BTs_hybrid_strategy_works\"><\/span><b>Why BT&#8217;s hybrid strategy works<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The magic isn&#8217;t in the specific numbers (though three days seems to hit the sweet spot for <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">office productivity<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). It&#8217;s in the clarity. Employees understand expectations, managers don&#8217;t constantly negotiate individual arrangements, and the business gets the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">team collaboration<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> it needs for complex projects.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Measurable outcomes from BT&#8217;s flexible working policy:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Service levels maintained despite reduced <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">office presence<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improved <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">employee satisfaction<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> without team disconnection<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Office space optimisation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> without compromising operational effectiveness<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enhanced <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">work flexibility<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> leading to better talent retention<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Lessons_for_SMEs_from_BTs_hybrid_work_success\"><\/span><b>Lessons for SMEs from BT&#8217;s hybrid work success<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be crystal clear about flexible work expectations.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Vague policies like &#8220;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">remote work available<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8221; create confusion and resentment. If you need people in the office for specific days or activities, specify this in your <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">workplace policy<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Focus on outcomes in remote work arrangements.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> BT measures service delivery and project completion, not just desk presence. What <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">productivity metrics<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> matter most in your business?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensure fair flexible working policies.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The three-day rule applies to everyone eligible for <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hybrid work<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. No special deals, no favouritism in your <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">remote work strategy<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-34345 aligncenter\" style=\"font-size: 16px; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: #3b82f680; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000;\" src=\"https:\/\/work.life\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/BT-24-Aug-22-Birmingham-Quick-Edits-108585-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"386\" height=\"257\" srcset=\"https:\/\/work.life\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/BT-24-Aug-22-Birmingham-Quick-Edits-108585-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/work.life\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/BT-24-Aug-22-Birmingham-Quick-Edits-108585-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/work.life\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/BT-24-Aug-22-Birmingham-Quick-Edits-108585-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/work.life\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/BT-24-Aug-22-Birmingham-Quick-Edits-108585-1620x1080.jpg 1620w, https:\/\/work.life\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/BT-24-Aug-22-Birmingham-Quick-Edits-108585.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 386px) 100vw, 386px\" \/><\/h2>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Unilevers_revolutionary_%E2%80%9CU-Work%E2%80%9D_and_hybrid_work_model\"><\/span><b>Unilever&#8217;s revolutionary &#8220;U-Work&#8221; and hybrid work model<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unilever has gone further than almost any major company in reimagining <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">modern work arrangements<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Their &#8220;U-Work&#8221; programme sounds radical, but it&#8217;s solving real <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">business productivity<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> challenges whilst pioneering <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">flexible employment models<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Unilevers_innovative_flexible_work_strategy\"><\/span><b>Unilever&#8217;s innovative flexible work strategy<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">U-Work<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> lets employees work 9-12 months per year on project-based assignments whilst maintaining full benefits and job security. Think of it as the gig economy, but with the stability of permanent employment and comprehensive <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">employee benefits<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additionally, they&#8217;ve implemented a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hybrid working policy<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> where employees spend approximately 40% of their time in offices &#8211; but they choose when and how, maximising both <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">workplace flexibility<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">team productivity<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They&#8217;ve even trialled <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">four-day working weeks<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in New Zealand and Australia, maintaining full pay for 80% of the time if <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">work productivity<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> stays at 100%.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Business_benefits_of_Unilevers_approach\"><\/span><b>Business benefits of Unilever&#8217;s approach<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This isn&#8217;t just about <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">working from home<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Unilever has recognised that traditional 9-to-5 models don&#8217;t fit how modern <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">knowledge work<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> actually gets done &#8211; especially creative and strategic projects.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant business benefits from flexible work policies:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Access to talent who couldn&#8217;t commit to traditional <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">full-time work arrangements<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reduced costs from lower <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">office space requirements<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increased innovation from cross-functional <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">remote collaboration<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Better retention of experienced employees seeking <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">work-life balance<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enhanced <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">employee engagement<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> through meaningful flexibility<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_SMEs_can_apply_Unilevers_flexible_work_model_to_their_own_business\"><\/span><b>How SME&#8217;s can apply Unilever&#8217;s flexible work model to their own business<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Think projects, not just jobs in your remote work strategy.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Could some of your work be structured as specific projects with clear deliverables? This <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">flexible working approach<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> works particularly well for marketing, design, consultancy, and strategic work.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Offer genuine workplace flexibility, not just lip service.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Unilever&#8217;s 40% office time isn&#8217;t arbitrary &#8211; it&#8217;s based on what actually needs face-to-face interaction. What percentage makes sense for your <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hybrid work model<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Focus on results in flexible work arrangements.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> If someone can deliver excellent work in four days, why insist on five? <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Compressed work weeks<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can actually boost <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">employee productivity<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-34346 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/work.life\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-18-at-14.54.25-300x63.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"838\" height=\"176\" srcset=\"https:\/\/work.life\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-18-at-14.54.25-300x63.png 300w, https:\/\/work.life\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-18-at-14.54.25-768x162.png 768w, https:\/\/work.life\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-18-at-14.54.25.png 1106w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 838px) 100vw, 838px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tescos_retail_innovation_in_flexible_working_policies\"><\/span><b>Tesco&#8217;s retail innovation in flexible working policies<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tesco faces the biggest <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">flexible working challenge<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of our three companies: how do you offer <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">workplace flexibility<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> when you need people to serve customers, stock shelves, and run tills? Their solution demonstrates that even traditional industries can implement effective <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">flexible work strategies<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tescos_comprehensive_policies\"><\/span><b>Tesco&#8217;s comprehensive policies<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tesco gave all employees the right to request <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">flexible working arrangements<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from day one &#8211; nearly a year before it became a legal requirement. But they&#8217;ve gone beyond just <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">policy changes<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to create meaningful <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">workplace flexibility<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For office-based employees:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Standard <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hybrid work arrangements<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">flexible hours<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">compressed working weeks<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> where operationally viable.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For store-based employees:<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Flexible shift patterns<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, job sharing opportunities, seasonal adjustments for school holidays, and cross-training enabling work across different departments.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tech-enabled_flexible_work_solutions\"><\/span><b>Tech-enabled flexible work solutions<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The real breakthrough is how Tesco uses technology and training to make <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">workplace flexibility<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> possible in a traditionally rigid industry. Employees receive cross-training across departments, digital tools enable <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">remote monitoring<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and data analytics optimise <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">flexible scheduling<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Insights_for_SMEs_based_on_Tescos_success\"><\/span><b>Insights for <\/b><b>SME&#8217;s based on<\/b><b> Tesco&#8217;s success<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Get creative with flexible scheduling.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Could you offer <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">compressed hours<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">flexible start times<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, or seasonal adjustments? Tesco proves that even customer-facing businesses can offer meaningful <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">workplace flexibility<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cross-train your team for better work flexibility.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The more versatile your employees, the more <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">flexible work options<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> you can offer without compromising service. This also makes your business more resilient.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use technology to enable flexible working.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> You don&#8217;t need Tesco&#8217;s budget, but simple tools for <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">remote work scheduling<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, communication, and monitoring can significantly improve <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">workplace flexibility<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-34347 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/work.life\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-18-at-14.55.48-300x102.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"574\" height=\"195\" srcset=\"https:\/\/work.life\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-18-at-14.55.48-300x102.png 300w, https:\/\/work.life\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-18-at-14.55.48-768x260.png 768w, https:\/\/work.life\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-18-at-14.55.48.png 898w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 574px) 100vw, 574px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Real-world_benefits_and_challenges_of_flexible_working_policies\"><\/span><b>Real-world benefits and challenges of flexible working policies<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Benefits\"><\/span><b>Benefits\u00a0<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enhanced recruitment and retention through workplace flexibility:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> All three companies report that <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">flexible working policies<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have become major competitive advantages in attracting and keeping talent. In today&#8217;s tight labour market, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">remote work options<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> matter more than ever.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Measurable productivity gains from hybrid work:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Contrary to fears about <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">remote working<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, all three companies have maintained or improved <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">employee productivity<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The key is measuring the right <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">performance metrics<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant cost savings from flexible work:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Reduced <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">office space costs<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, lower travel expenses, and decreased sick leave add up to substantial savings from <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hybrid working models<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improved employee wellbeing through work-life balance:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Better <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">flexible work arrangements<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> lead to happier, more engaged employees. This directly impacts <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">business performance<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">team productivity<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Challenges\"><\/span><b>Challenges<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Management training for remote work success:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Your managers need to learn how to manage outcomes, not presence. This represents a bigger shift than most businesses expect when implementing <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">flexible work policies<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Technology investment for hybrid work:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> You need reliable systems for <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">remote collaboration<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, communication, and security. However, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">flexible working technology<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> doesn&#8217;t have to break the bank.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cultural change in flexible work adoption:<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Workplace flexibility<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> requires trust, clear communication, and new ways of measuring success. This cultural shift takes time to embed in <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hybrid work environments<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensuring fairness in flexible work policies:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> How do you ensure <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">remote work arrangements<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> don&#8217;t create inequality between those who can work remotely and those who can&#8217;t?<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_practical_plan_for_implementation\"><\/span><b>A practical plan for implementation<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Start_small\"><\/span><b>Start small\u00a0<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You don&#8217;t need to revolutionise everything overnight. Pick one area where <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">workplace flexibility<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> could make a real difference and trial it for three months. Measure the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">productivity results<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> carefully and adjust your <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">flexible working strategy<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> based on learning.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Align_with_business_needs\"><\/span><b>Align with business needs<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BT needs collaboration for complex projects. Unilever needs creativity and innovation. Tesco needs customer service. What does your business actually need to succeed? Design your <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">flexible working policy<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> around core <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">business requirements<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_essentials\"><\/span><b>The essentials\u00a0<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Clear expectations in remote work policies:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Everyone should know exactly what&#8217;s expected of them, when, and where in your <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hybrid work arrangements<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reliable technology for flexible work:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Invest in good <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">remote collaboration tools<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. They don&#8217;t have to be expensive, but they must support effective <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hybrid working<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regular check-ins for remote teams:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> More frequent, shorter conversations work better than traditional annual reviews when managing <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">flexible work arrangements<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Measuring_success\"><\/span><b>Measuring success<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don&#8217;t just measure hours worked or days in the office. Focus on <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">key performance indicators<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">flexible work success<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Customer satisfaction metrics<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Project delivery times<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Work quality standards<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Employee engagement scores<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Business results and productivity<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Forward-planning\"><\/span><b>Forward-planning\u00a0<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enhanced communication in hybrid work:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Over-communicate rather than under-communicate. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remote and hybrid teams<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> need more structured communication, not less.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inclusion in flexible work arrangements:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Ensure <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">remote workers<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> don&#8217;t miss opportunities, information, or informal networking in your <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hybrid work model<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Work-life boundaries in flexible working:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Help employees separate work and home life, even when implementing <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">work from home policies<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_strategic_value_of_flexible_working_for_SMEs\"><\/span><b>The strategic value of flexible working for SMEs<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most successful companies aren&#8217;t just offering <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">flexible working arrangements<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as employee perks. They&#8217;re using <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">workplace flexibility<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as a strategic tool to attract better talent, improve <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">business productivity<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and build more resilient operations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BT&#8217;s structured <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hybrid work approach<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> succeeds because it balances business needs with <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">employee flexibility<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Unilever&#8217;s innovation works because it aligns with their creative, project-based work culture. Tesco&#8217;s <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">strategy<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> succeeds because they&#8217;ve found ways to offer meaningful <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">workplace flexibility<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> even in traditionally rigid retail operations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The key insight for SME&#8217;s?<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Workplace flexibility<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> isn&#8217;t one-size-fits-all. Your <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">flexible work policy<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> needs to fit your business, industry, and team culture. But when you implement <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">effective flexible working arrangements<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the benefits extend far beyond employee satisfaction.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether you&#8217;re a tech startup, professional services firm, manufacturer, or retailer, these <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">flexible working strategies<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> offer actionable insights. The question isn&#8217;t whether <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hybrid work models<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can work for your business &#8211; it&#8217;s how you can adapt these proven <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">approaches<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for maximum impact.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Companies that master <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">workplace flexibility<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> first will gain significant competitive advantages. The good news is that Britain&#8217;s biggest companies have already tested these <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">flexible work strategies<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Now it&#8217;s time to adapt their insights for your <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SME flexible working success<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_we_can_help\"><\/span>How we can help<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-10 xl:max-w-screen-lg mx-auto\">\n<div class=\"flex items-start gap-4\">\n<div class=\"mt-2 w-full min-w-0\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"prose [&amp;_p&gt;code]:!bg-muted\">\n<p>Ready to implement flexible working for your SME?\u00a0While large corporations have the resources to build comprehensive office infrastructure, SMEs need smarter solutions.\u00a0Work.Life&#8217;s flexible workspace network\u00a0across London provides the professional meeting rooms, coworking spaces, and collaborative environments that make\u00a0hybrid work policies\u00a0successful without the overhead of traditional office commitments.<\/p>\n<p>Whether you need spaces for team collaboration days (like BT&#8217;s model), project-based meetings (like Unilever&#8217;s approach), or professional client presentations, our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/work.life\/coworking\/\">flexible office solutions<\/a> across London, Reading and Manchester give SMEs the infrastructure to compete with larger companies whilst maintaining the workplace flexibility\u00a0that attracts top talent.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex gap-1 pt-3 opacity-60\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The\u00a0revolution isn&#8217;t just happening in Silicon Valley startups or trendy creative agencies. Some of Britain&#8217;s most traditional companies &#8211; from&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":82,"featured_media":33703,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_eb_attr":"","content-type":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"no","footnotes":""},"categories":[243],"tags":[],"post_type_category":[],"authors":[],"class_list":["post-34344","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-better-your-business"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.0 (Yoast SEO v27.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How big companies are making flexible working actually work - Work.Life<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover how BT, Unilever, and Tesco have mastered flexible working policies and how SMEs can implement to boost productivity and retention.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/work.life\/blog\/insights-for-smes-on-flexible-working\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How big companies are making flexible working actually work\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Discover how BT, Unilever, and Tesco have mastered flexible working policies and how SMEs can implement to boost productivity and retention.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/work.life\/blog\/insights-for-smes-on-flexible-working\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Work.Life\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/workdotlife\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-08-18T13:56:56+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-08-18T13:57:30+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/work.life\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/WORK.LIFE-7220.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1335\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Emily\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@workdotlife\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@workdotlife\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Emily\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/work.life\/blog\/insights-for-smes-on-flexible-working\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/work.life\/blog\/insights-for-smes-on-flexible-working\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Emily\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/work.life\/#\/schema\/person\/6448318b499dbba1ef84678a1c22dd29\"},\"headline\":\"How big companies are making flexible working actually work\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-08-18T13:56:56+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-08-18T13:57:30+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/work.life\/blog\/insights-for-smes-on-flexible-working\/\"},\"wordCount\":1866,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/work.life\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/work.life\/blog\/insights-for-smes-on-flexible-working\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/work.life\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/WORK.LIFE-7220.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Better your business\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/work.life\/blog\/insights-for-smes-on-flexible-working\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/work.life\/blog\/insights-for-smes-on-flexible-working\/\",\"name\":\"How big companies are making flexible working actually work - 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