Trigger goes here The world of work is in the middle of a major shake-up, with implications for companies of every shape and size. The term ‘agile working’ is becoming commonplace as the relationship between businesses and their workforce is redefined – and businesses start to recognise the value to them of broad range of workers available to them.

 

What’s an ‘Agile Worker’?

Agile workers are those carrying out tasks as contractors, consultants, temporary, part-time, remote or freelance workers rather than being employed by a single company on a full-time basis. They might put in a limited number of hours for one employer or several simultaneously. They might work for a business for a few days or weeks, take a break when the workflow eases and then return when needed. They may work part-time or remotely. In short – they work around the needs of the business, while fulfilling their own personal need for flexibility.

 

While some employees have always worked to one or more of those models, the number operating in that way is set to explode. A Workplace 2025 survey of almost 4,700 workers and senior executives by Randstad, one of the world’s largest providers of HR services, reveals that agile workers comprised 11% of the workforce in 2016. However, 39% of today’s permanent workers say they will consider shifting to agile work in the next 2-3 years. So by the end of this decade, agile workers could account for 50% of the workforce.

 

What’s driving the agile working trend?

This is being driven by a number of factors, not least a change of mindset on the part of the employees. While many associate this type of employment model with zero hours contracts and increased insecurity, more and more employees are choosing to work in an agile way. Randstad found that 68% of agile workers chose to go down that route because it better fits their lifestyle, 53% believe they are better off financially and 48% feel that agile work offers them better career opportunities than full-time employment.

 

No wonder then that, according to the survey, more than two thirds of employers and employees believe that by 2025 the majority of the workforce will be working in an agile arrangement. Businesses clearly believe this will work for them: according to the survey, 46% of companies indicate they are more committed to building an agile workforce model in 2016 compared to 18% in 2012.

 

So ‘agile working’ is more than just another buzz-phrase. It is happening right now and will affect businesses whether they like it or not. Amanda Seabrook, MD of Workpond, specialists in helping businesses create Agile Working strategies, believes that “interest in Agile Working has increased further since Brexit, as businesses tackle the uncertain economic environment. They see it as a tool to keep costs in line with revenue.”

 

The good news is that agile working presents opportunities for companies prepared to seize them. While Millennials and Gen Z (those born since 1980) in the early stages of their career are at the forefront of the flexible working wave, some intriguing developments at the other end of the age scale could hugely benefit forward-thinking businesses.

 

Many senior executives in their 50s or 60s, with years of valuable experience, are adopting the agile approach, tapering their workload rather than abruptly retiring. So a growing business that could benefit from the services of an experienced Finance or Sales Director but doesn’t need (or can’t afford) to hire an experienced individual on a full-time, permanent basis, can now take on somebody for the exact hours they require.

 

John Linney, Managing Director of Sales+Profit, has seen this first-hand. “In the past, we would typically conduct a Strategic Review for a company which would then engage one of our Sales Directors for perhaps two days a week for the next six to eight months. Now we’re finding that our clients want to have that Sales Director on a part-time basis for an indefinite period as they recognise the value of this kind of help for the long-term.”

 

Companies that embrace the agile philosophy will be fishing in a much broader talent pool and will be able to bring in the kind of expertise and experience that could help to transform their business.