What is the ethical issue?

As technology has grown and methods of communication have developed, the ability to work remotely has emerged to positively impact organisations, but raise questions regarding its effects on individuals.

Although the flexibility and mobility of working has improved, achieving both a balance and separation between work and home has become harder. In the IBE’s 2018 survey of the British public, 23% highlighted work-home balance as an issue that employers need to address, behind only tax avoidance, executive pay and environmental responsibility.

If an organisation does not effectively establish a culture which encourages a good balance between professional and personal life it can have wider ramifications on employee wellbeing and company performance. Flexible working arrangements are growing in business, and many full-time employees consider the option to use mobile technology away from work an advantage, yet companies need to recognise their duty of care and show caution to how this may cause stress for employees and negatively impact their personal lives.

Contrastingly, organisations also risk creating a disengaged workforce if they fail to take employees’ personal circumstances into account in a manner which is fair. Disengaged employees often become so after experiencing stress caused by their employers, and thus proceed to actively work against the aims of the organisation.

IBE Guidance

A summary of good practice

• With the ability to work flexibly becoming more accessible and sophisticated, organisations are better placed to embrace the personal circumstances of employees and develop strategies which maintain a happy and engaged workforce. Understanding the optimal working environment for employees and encouraging a positive work-home balance can have a strong impact on company performance.
• Employers may opt for more tangible policies to ensure this balance, such as restricting emails outside of working hours, or allowing differing working hours for different employees depending on personal circumstances. Yet broadly, organisations should adopt a strategy which creates a culture where the professional and personal do not work against each other and workplace wellbeing is a priority, thus building an engaged workforce who achieve results without sacrifices in their personal lives.

Further resources