Office Productivity
Flexible Working Helps Companies Beat the Cold
Published January 11th, 2010 by Jennifer LeClaire
With near record-breaking temperatures hitting the United States and United Kingdom, the Regus Group thought it an opportune time to take a look at how severe snow negatively impacts companies.
Speaking from personal experience, the record low South Florida temperatures are certainly making a negative impact. Thousands of people in West Palm Beach are without power. Indeed, the South Florida cold is making national headlines as snow flurries appear in Orlando and even as far south as South Miami. I am glad that I use a virtual office space.
A Statistical Bang
Regus starts off with a statistical bang. According to the Federation of Small Businesses, one day of snow in February last year cost UK companies £1.2bn – because 20 percent of commuters did not make it into the office. If that’s not enough to get your attention, consider a stat from the Forum for Private Business. The group warned that organizations could lose up to £230m a day due to the bad weather companies there are currently experiencing. I’m sure we could put up similar stats stateside.
Regus then lists the negative financial impact on businesses due to severe weather.
- Lost revenue from potential new sales
- Negative customer perception of an unreliable service
- Negative impact upon brand reputation
- Delays or loss of money collected from debtors
- Restriction of company and revenue growth
- Market erosion as your competitors poach your customers or potential customers when you’re not available
Regus’ Snowy Weather Solution
After laying out a duly grim picture, Regus, like a knight in bright shining armor, sets out to offer a solution. The answer, according to Regus, is to implement flexible working strategies. The company insists it’s the most effective way to avoid the negative financial impacts.
What’s more, Regus says flexible working strategies also offer many positive benefits for companies – when they are part of the every day culture. Seemingly countering the negative, Regus lays out the top benefits of flexible working strategies:
- Generic organizational cost reductions
- Reduced property rental and maintenance costs
- Reduced utility costs (e.g. heating, lighting power and water)
- Reduced equipment and furniture costs (fewer desks and desk phones etc.)
- Reduced number of facility management staff required to maintain and service properties
- Reduced catering facilities for employees etc.
- Continuity of service during any major or minor disruption
One thing is certain, given the opportunity, I’m sure most employees would jump at the chance to avoid long drives in the snow right now.
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About the Author
Bill Brookshire January 11th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
Regus is always working the angles – but they are truthful. This cold weather probably has a lot of people wanting to trade their office space for their warm bed. These are great opportunities from a marketing perspective to drive home the benefits of allowing employees to work from remote locations. Nicely done.
Elizabeth Sanchez January 11th, 2010 at 12:27 pm
If Regus is playing off the weather, I’m sure we’ll see the company talk about hotdesking for hurricanes in a few months. It’s always something. Regus does make some great points, though. Companies should have alternative office space locations for employees for disaster, weather, man-made natural disasters and other occassions. Here’s one: convenience.