Australian bosses are keeping workers at the desk while embracing flexible work for themselves

DO YOU ever get the feeling that one rule applies to you, and another to your boss? Well here’s the proof you might be right.

In this image released by Universal Pictures, various minion characters appear in a scene from the animated feature, "Minions." (Illumination Entertainment/Universal Pictures via AP)

IT’S THE work perk that our bosses are keeping to themselves.

Australians are eager to shake up their nine-to-five office schedules, but new research shows employers failing to lead the way.

A Galaxy survey of 1024 office workers commissioned by software firm Citrix found many employers were doing little more than paying lip service to workplace flexibility.

That’s despite the fact the biggest contingent to take up flexible working arrangements were cashed-up managers.

Have you ever noticed that the lowly staff in your office are at their desks all day long, while your high-paid colleagues come in when they like, and the boss casually ducks off each afternoon to do the school pick-up? Well, you’re not the only one.

Citrix’s research found that 48 per cent of managers worked from home occasionally, while 65 per cent of workers on salaries of more than $130,000 did so on a regular basis.

Yet most Australians did not have access to flexible arrangements, with just 44 per cent on average enjoying the perk — despite 72 per cent saying they wanted it.

Citrix Regional Director Mobility Apps, APAC Lindsay Brown said that while many Australian companies boasted of flexible working practices, excuses abounded for failing to make it happen.

“The harsh reality is the majority of organisations do not trust their employees to be as productive at home as they do in the office, even though the economic and social benefits offer a compelling argument that we can no longer ignore,” Mr Brown said.

“We know that giving workers more flexibility to carry out their roles makes them happier, more productive and more loyal to their employer, while having the potential to contribute billions to the Australian economy.”

He said employers could boost productivity by outlining clearly how staff could access flexible arrangements, which should only be offered to those who were performing well.

Harnessing technology to hold meetings online and allow staff to spend some days working from home could save Australians a whopping $108.7 million a week in travel costs, Mr Brown said.

“Technologies which support flexible working are already available and well established, from document sharing applications to teleconferencing software, tablets and smartphones,” he said.

Most of the workers surveyed said they would happily spend some of their saved travel time — an average 51.4 minutes a day — working.

And 73 per cent of older workers said they would work more hours and stay in the workforce longer if flexible options were available.

Mr Brown said this could add an additional 2.1 million potential work years to the national productivity resource — equating to $134.8 billion, or 1.3 per cent of Australian GDP.

“Continuing to eschew flexible working in favour of ways of working familiar to our parents and grandparents presents serious consequences for Australia’s future,” Mr Brown said.