Eversheds has piloted a new flexible working scheme which could see the firm's staff allowed to change their working hours at short notice.

The scheme, which was trialled between February and March, saw 150 lawyers and support staff encouraged to work flexible hours, work from home or work from clients' premises.

The pilot was less structured than the firm's existing flexible working scheme, in which staff members must submit a business case to change their working hours, with staff instead encouraged to simply run changes by their managers on an informal basis.

Human resources projects head Margot King commented: "It was really about encouraging staff to look at flexible working in a different way. We left it open to staff to decide how they wanted to approach their work and, as a result, we found that productivity actually improved 5% on the same time last year."

King said the pilot was greeted favourably by staff, with 48% of those participating in the pilot saying they felt more valued and trusted by the firm.

King added: "This scheme could be an excellent way to minimise the impact on staff of the Olympic Games next year. Team members may be delayed on their way to work or may want to watch a few of the events – this way they can make up the hours elsewhere."

The firm is currently reviewing feedback from staff and is considering whether to implement the scheme on a wider scale in its London office, with plans also underway to pilot the scheme in other UK and international offices.

Eversheds' management is also consulting with partners and staff about what they want to see in the firm's 2012-15 strategy, with mergers in the US and London among the priorities.