Hewitt: flexible working is key to retaining staff

Over half of IT professionals enjoy flexible working arrangements, but the vast majority still want a better work-life balance.

Half of the 1000 respondents to a survey published today by the Department of Trade and Industry say they are not as involved with their families as they would like. Fifty per cent also feel they don't have control over their work.

More than 90 per cent of female and 80 per cent of male respondents want more flexible jobs and over half don't believe senior managers make good work-life balance role models.

Greater commitment to the work-life balance helps reverse the wasteful trend of women leaving the IT industry, Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt told Computing.

'The problem clearly needs tackling to ensure that the industry stays competitive and attracts the skilled staff it needs,' she said.

Karen Price, chief executive of IT sector skills group eSkills said: 'Flexible working makes an organisation much more attractive to work for and more likely to hire and keep good people.'

John Eary, head of staff consultancy at NCC Group, says employers and staff can gain from flexible working, but added: 'The evidence here suggests the balance hasn't yet been reached.'