It’s no surprise that flexible work weeks reap great advantages for employees, but did you know that employers can also gain from flexible work arrangements? From promoting a positive work life balance to candidate retention and attraction, read on for how flexible work can benefit your organization.
Flexible work weeks have become a sought-after element of comprehensive benefits packages for employees. The ability to schedule their week as they feel fit enables employees to maximize their work-life balance while reducing the stress associated with commuting, child care and other demands. Given the benefits that flexible work arrangements offer employees, are you ready to let different work weeks make a positive impact on your workforce? Check out Adecco’s guide to flexible work and elevate your organization’s productivity today.
Three common types of flexible work:
1) Compressed work week
Simply put, compressed work weeks involve working more hours in fewer days, commonly consisting of four ten-hour days. The additional day off, often observed on Mondays or Fridays, gives your staff a longer weekend and a greater work-life balance.
Pros
Not only does a compressed work week offer your employees larger periods of time off, it also enables employers to extend their operation hours. Plus, employees are said to have greater job satisfaction, reducing employee turnover.
Cons
Long work days can lead to exhaustion and fatigue for your staff, affecting the overall productivity of your business.
2) Flexible work hours
With flexible work hours, employees are given the freedom to coordinate their daily schedule to accommodate their personal needs.
Pros
If executed successfully, flexible work hours enable employers to increase headcount without adding work stations through communal seats and computers. Flexible workers in general work longer hours, achieve more and are more satisfied with their work.
Cons
Although flexible work hours can yield benefits to your business’s bottom line, it has the potential to complicate communication. With employees working different hours, it can be challenging to find a time to schedule a meeting, thus hindering communication on joint projects.
3) Telecommuting/working from home
Telecommuting or e-commuting involves work performed from a remote location, often a home office. Employers may allow workers to telecommute a few days a week, or, based on the needs of the business, full-time.
Pros
Telecommuting, at its best, has the potential to enhance productivity among your employees. Working from a home office enables employees to complete their workload within their peak periods of productivity while maintaining a strong work-life balance.
Cons
Employees who telecommute lack opportunities to collaborate with colleagues, miss out on social activities and may find it hard to divide their professional work from their personal lives, all potentially affecting productivity and your business’s bottom line.
As an employer, it’s clear that offering your employees flexible work can be advantageous. Enabling a flexible work week has the potential to reduce tardiness and absenteeism, decrease turnover and attract top talent. It also facilitates employment for workers with children and workers with disabilities, ensuring your business has full access to top candidates regardless of their personal situations.
With proper execution, flexible work can accommodate the needs of your colleagues and business alike, helping to make your organization a great place to work.