Flexible working report

Flexible Working:

Business killer or corporate cure?

Taking the temperature of flexible working policies.

Five years after Covid upended traditional office-based practices and ushered in a new era of flexible and hybrid working, opinion is increasingly divided about the future of flexibility.

To understand what is happening in the automotive sector and gain insights into the future of flexible working, we conducted interviews with 30 senior automotive leaders, including People/HR Directors, Managing Directors and CEOs.

The leaders were chosen to represent a range of verticals within the industry – Supply Chain, OEMs, NSCs and Retailers – along with a group of other automotive-related organisations.

SENIOR EXECUTIVES

DECISION-MAKING CHECKLISTS

Our research uncovered a spectrum of leadership perspectives on flexible working, from those who view it as a critical lever for talent acquisition and retention, to others who raise concerns around operational cohesion and productivity.

To help navigate this complexity, the report concludes with practical advice around flexible working from Mandeep Dhatt, who has previously led the people and culture functions at McLaren Automotive and Lotus Cars Europe, and legal guidance about returning to office-based working from Anna Robinson, Employment Partner at law firm Watson Farley & Williams.

Together, these resources offer a structured and rigorous approach to implementing flexibility in a way that aligns with commercial goals, employee expectations and legal obligations.

“

Hybrid is just one element of flexible working. People in dealerships, warehouses or parts departments don’t have the choice to work from home, but we want to include flexibility for all colleagues.

Louise Manzano

Group Talent & Organisation Development Director, Inchcape plc

“

If you want to be a modern employer, you’ve got to be flexible. Flexibility is not about only working from a single policy, and I think that is the bit that maybe some of these companies need to really consider.

Andy Bloomer

CEO, Autins Group plc

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