Published on the 11/06/2013 | Written by Newsdesk
Google and Deloitte say employers who offer their staff the opportunity to bring their own device to work, flexible work options and access to social networks benefit from boosted productivity and lower staff churn…
A survey of more than 500 Australian employees which was commissioned by Google and conducted by Deloitte Access Economics has revealed that employees are less likely to leave their jobs if they have workplace access to their preferred technologies and flexible work conditions. The survey found that among the group of respondents who felt they had access to flexible IT and work practices, six percent planned to leave their jobs – the figure was nine percent among those workers who did not have flexible IT policies or work practices.
Deloitte claimed that large companies, which closed the gap by introducing BYOD policies and teleworking, could save themselves up to $350,000 a year – and even small business $22,000 – from reducing the hiring and training costs associated with employee churn.
Frank Farrall, national leader of Deloitte Digital, said that there was an emerging “hierarchy of needs” for the modern employee. While having a “reasonable relationship with their manager and decent pay” remained the most important considerations for employees, access to fast and modern technology was increasingly important. “Business has to keep pace if they want to attract and keep top talent.”
Farrall said that access to fast, modern technology was critical for companies that wanted to support innovation and collaboration.
Deloitte itself has had to take its own medicine. Ric Simes, a partner at Deloitte Access Economics, said that the organisation had over the last month issued all staff with a lightweight laptop as a direct result of employee-demand.
Clare Hatton, industry director at Google Australia, which commissioned the report said, “People want to work the way they live – not step back in time when they walk through the office door.” Google is using the results to telegraph the capabilities of its cloud based software range which can be used to deliver CIOs with more control over content in environments where BYOD and telework programmes are allowed.
