Abstract
The purpose of the research was to discover what management’s understanding of flexible working arrangements in small to medium firms in the accounting industry entails. The research strove to obtain an understanding of managers’ opinions regarding the link between flexible working arrangements and an employee’s ability to complete a task effectively. In addition to this, the researcher attempted to establish whether managers preferred flexible working arrangements (FWAs) or not.
Work forms an important part of our lives, as indicated by Beltrame and Cappelletti (2014:6) who describe work as a means to enhance our standard of living and to contribute to the flourishing of our economies. This description gives rise to the question whether it is then acceptable that only one working standard should apply to all businesses. This “standard” refers to operating within the norm of a fixed hour working system, from 8h00 to 16h30 for instance, with no formalised option of requesting to work on an alternative schedule. An “alternative schedule” would refer to flexible working arrangements constituting flexi-time, compressed hours, job-sharing, part-time and telecommuting.
It is advocated that the advent of the technological age bolstered the ability of the average worker to provide output from various locations at various times and they are not limited to the traditional manner in which work time was controlled and managed (De Menezes & Kelliher, 2011:457). When FWAs started to trend on social media, people began conversing about their perceptions regarding the concept. This led to the question whether employees were in search of greater work-life balance and whether managers could use FWAs as a strategic management tool.
The literature reveals that many businesses have started adopting flexible working arrangements in the belief that the concept provides business benefits, not only through perceived enhanced employee performance, but also in improved work-life balance for employees.
The research sample entailed thirteen top and middle (human resource) managers from seven different small and medium accounting firms within the Cape Town region, as they are the parties involved in making the final decisions regarding the possible implementation of flexible working arrangements.
M.Com. (Strategic Management)