A new report from Samsung says there is a big trust deficit at workplaces when it comes to flexible work practices.

The report highlighted various barriers to flexible working, saying employers have some deep reservations about allowing staff to work in a way that better suits their lifestyle.

The Samsung survey says three out of ten businesses did not trust their employees to work flexibly.

This was despite over half of the businesses surveyed saying that more flexibility could improve productivity,

It appears that many managers do not trust their staff to carry out their duties properly in a flexible environment.

The findings suggest there is confusion within companies about the best way to introduce flexible working processes.

Nearly a third of those surveyed thought someone else was responsible for equipping employees with the tools and processes required for flexible working.

This lack of effective policy and funding was evident in nearly a third saying unclear staff policies created the a barrier.

Authorities say Australian businesses must overcome the ‘trust gap’ to allow enterprises and employees to reap the benefits of a well-regulated flexible working model.

The Fair Work Ombudsmen has some rules and suggestions for flexible work arrangements on its website.