What is a potential drawback of flexible working arrangements?

• A. They always increase supervision and control.
• B. They reduce the need for any equipment.
• C. They can lead to a lack of supervision and direction of staff, and organisations may have to provide staff with equipment such as laptops and mobile phones so they can work at home, which can be costly.
• D. They guarantee higher productivity.

Answer: (C)

A key issue with flexible working is that supervision can become weaker when staff aren’t in the same location, making it harder to provide direction and monitor performance. When employees work remotely, managers need to rely more on formal systems, clear goals, regular check-ins, and strong communication to keep everyone aligned. At the same time, organisations often have to supply equipment and technology—laptops, mobile phones, secure access, software licenses, and IT support—which adds significant cost and ongoing maintenance. If these controls and resources aren’t well managed, performance can drift and coordination can suffer. The other statements aren’t accurate because supervision isn’t necessarily increased; equipment needs usually rise rather than fall; and productivity isn’t guaranteed and depends on how well the arrangements are implemented.