A Manifesto for Change: A Modern Workplace for a Flexible Workforce

This resource summarizes the need for workplace flexibility and identifies the key demands of the manifesto that can help the workplace adapt a flexible workforce. The resource is based on a survey of flexible workers and in-depth interviews with pro-flex business leaders across the UK.

1. Leaders must provoke cultural change: Challenge the status quo

Make flexibility a strategic issue and champion flexible working, question cultural norms, and men must challenge stereotypes.

2. Flexible working to be gender neutral: Emphasize the value of male and female role models

Male and female leaders must walk the talk, men need to talk about flexibility and parental leave to normalize it, senior male role models are essential but so are people across every level.

3. Design flexibility into jobs as standard: Ask “why not” rather than “why”

Make flexible working the norm for everyone not just parents and carers, systemize flexible working through guidelines for managers, one size does not fit all, and measure performance not hours.

4. Influence attitudes and actions of managers: Permission and support

Give managers permission, training, and tools for flexible work; and call out managers and leaders who undermine flexible workers

5. Collect data: Measure success

Measure formal and informal flexible work, and share across teams, set targets, and track progress by including metrics as part of managers’ performance review.