A third of employees feel that the Olympic Games will have a negative impact on businesses’ cash flow and productivity, research finds.

A third of employees feel that the Olympic Games will have a negative impact on businesses’ cash flow and productivity, research finds.  

Other key findings from a study by the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP) show the lengths that organisations in London will go to to minimise the travel disruption caused by the Games, with one in four organisations based in the capital allowing their staff to work from home or remotely in order to avoid having to commute to and from London.  

Furthermore, one in ten businesses are going as far as closing for a period of time or are planning to operate reduced hours to work outside Games-related rush hours.  

The CIPP warns companies that these measures could potentially have harmful effects on trade. Lindsay Melvin, chief executive of the CIPP says, 'With an increase in the number of staff working remotely, and some employers electing to go as far as shutting down or reducing their activities during the Olympics, there is real scope for the Games to have a negative impact on the financial and operational health of certain businesses.  

The organisation encourages businesses to adopt a flexible working policy during the Games, and that the best way to check whether this is feasible is for employers to consult with their payroll and HR departments.  

Melvin adds, 'For home and remote working arrangements to succeed, organisations must communicate with their staff to ensure that they have all the relevant equipment and technology to work outside of the office.

'Finally, companies need to consider the health and safety aspects of home and remote working, safeguarding business confidentiality and data protection requirements.'

See also: Olympics 'will benefit SMEs'