In the business world today, it is no longer necessary to punch the clock in the office or follow the 9-5 principle to be successful and productive. Flexible scheduling is one of the most important employee benefits. Not only employees want it there are quite a few who are negotiating flexible working before accepting the job offer. Flexible working is the freedom juice that boosts job satisfaction.
Pf all the obstacles you can think of, connectivity and collaboration issues within teams and individuals do not present any hurdles in our tech friendly world. High speed internet connection, mobile devices and quality business voice services allow you to stay connected to your employees working remotely.
While considering the following flexible scheduling tools and options for your business always remember that following a schedule and keeping your peers and boss updated on your work will go a long in making flex work a success.
Here are some compelling reasons that state the importance of flexible work schedules:
Work Satisfaction
Employees stuck in “job lock” may look for workplace flexibility. Job lock is where the employee is tied to an employer to maintain health insurance and is also locked into a rigid work schedule. If they find health insurance independent of their current employer’s plan they can “unlock” from the company and seek a more flexible time schedule.
The inflexible schedule may cause a good employee to leave or to seek serious reform to the daily tasks. In order for companies to maintain stability and retain good employees, they should consider the benefits of flexible scheduling.
For retention of talent and work satisfaction flexible work schedules are a win win situation for the company and employees.
Uninterrupted Work
At times you just need that complete focus and uninterrupted time to get the work done. If the company offers a flex work schedule it becomes easier for the employee to take a couple of days to work away from the office. There are tools available that allow you interact and keep in touch with your team. You may also keep in touch with your clients and customers when away from the physical office.
It is in good policy for the company to send out a comprehensive newsletter to highlight company policies and know how on flex work schedules and what is expected in such a work arrangement.
Emails also can be an interruption to smooth work flow and there was ways to regulate seeing them every minute and making it a point to access only a few times a day or receive important alerts through the day.
Companies can create alerts about overdue tasks, by using different daily task tools out there. Many companies that are deeply involved with the world of cloud computing may also be looking for advances in work schedule related software.
Benefits to Researchers
Researchers tend to work very long hours. Your company should try to set up a flexible work schedule in order to make sure they get enough rest. Studies show that working more than eight hours a day in most jobs can be bad for your health. It may make sense to break research teams into larger groups so people don’t have to work as many hours.
This kind of flexible work schedule may lead to better research, overall. Flexible work schedules can help an employee avoid related issues. The data shows that companies want to avoid rising health costs, so it makes sense to develop a positive, goal-oriented work schedule. You want to understand the importance of time-management.
Leadership & Workplace Flexibility
It is up to a company’s leadership to make the important decisions based on flexible work schedules. Even the White House is promoting the advantages of workplace flexibility. With advances in technology, employees and small business owners can structure a work environment that increases productivity, reduces expenses, cuts travel costs, and expands sales territories, all while promoting this flexibility.
It is important to weigh your options when it comes to employee work schedules, and make the decision that fits your company best. Providing even a little bit of flexibility can go a long way in employee morale and retention.