Flexibility is the hypernym used to categorize the breaking of traditional work schedules — whether it's the five-day work week, 40 hour work week, or the time honored in-office employee.
More so than ever before, workers are finally feeling in control of their work-life destiny.
When mobilizing talent for your company, don’t take for granted the effectiveness of offering a satisfying work-life balance. This type of arrangement offers employees the freedom they desire while also facilitating productivity and structural competence for your business.
Additionally, a flexible work schedule policy is an economical means of making your compensation package more attractive.
For job seekers, the axiom “less is more” is starting to make sense. For example, studies show that millennial workers aged 25 to 40 are more willing to take less pay in exchange for more freedom and flexibility.
In the past, employees were willing to work themselves to the bone with strict 9 to 5 jobs that left very little time for enjoying life on the side. Nowadays, employees are starting to see a work-to-live and not live-to-work attitude and are starting to prefer a freer and more flexible schedule rather than a larger salary.
Here are 5 of the most highly recommended tips for introducing a flexible workplace schedule:
Before anything else, it’s important to identify viable options to determine what your employees need. This will help get things out in the open and expose possible setbacks.
Ask employees what they expect from a flexible work arrangement. Hand out questionnaires, assemble focus groups, and inspire participants to be forthcoming and honest.
If your staff and colleagues sense that their viewpoints are being taken into consideration, they are more likely to be accepting of progressive ideas.
After exploring various solutions, conferring with personnel, and weighing which options to implement in your flexible work policy, it’s time to give it a trial run. Your pilot program should focus on each staff member separately and last around 3 to 4 weeks, or even longer if necessary.
It’s important to test your newly devised flexible work policy on a specific work group or department prior to expanding the program to the entire company. Encourage employees to provide feedback. Tweak the program until it’s an ideal fit for your staff and company.
If you find that your customized work program is ineffective and there seems to be a lack of enthusiasm from employees, there’s likely a communication flaw. Without good communication, there’s no way to accomplish your company goals successfully or maintain a productive workforce.
Instant messaging is unique in that it’s a text message exchange mechanism that communicates in real time. Various instant messaging tools like Chanty, Slack, Zoho Cliq, and heavy hitters like WhatsApp are popular IM tools utilized in businesses for communication purposes.
Being able to communicate quickly with your employees allows for faster response times and better performances as problems and issues are discovered and handled early on.
When introducing a flexible schedule in the workplace, leave room for adjustments. In fact, you can be sure that with time, modifications will be required.
Likewise, a flexible work arrangement can be amended or nullified if productivity becomes inadequate, staff is scarce, job requirement changes, or there is consistent negative feedback.
Bear in mind that the measures utilized in reworking or terminating a flexible work arrangement should be as straightforward and comprehensive as when you initiated the program.
It is crucial to provide each worker with the necessary tools in order to work efficiently. Screen sharing tools, sophisticated remote assistance tools, and project management apps are a must. Discuss with your employees which tools they find most efficient.
If you employ staff from various parts of the world, your primary link to those workers will be based on the right tools to help maintain flexibility and keep things running smoothly.
According to global statistics from a leading online product comparison and review site:
Employees today seek a work-life balance. They desire employment that provides the flexibility to be with their families and also work independently on tasks without being distracted by colleagues.
In order to stay competitive with the best workers, boost productivity and sustain company excellence, it’s crucial to keep workers satisfied by implementing a flexible work schedule.
The new workplace environment is much better now !!
Providing more flexibility can make some employees unmotivated. It's important to track their work. Avoid micro-managing, hold daily meetings and catch up when it matters.
My team uses Cisco Webex Meetings for Screen sharing and Restyaboard for Project management to work efficiently and to keep things running smoothly.
Luke Fitzpatrick has been published in Forbes, Yahoo! News and Influencive. He is also a guest lecturer at the University of Sydney, lecturing in Cross-Cultural Management and the Pre-MBA Program. You can connect with him on LinkedIn.
BBN Times connects decision makers to you. Experts in their fields, worth listening to, are the ones who write our articles. We believe these are the real commentators of the future. We quickly and accurately deliver serious information around the world. BBN Times provides its readers human expertise to find trusted answers by providing a platform and a voice to anyone willing to know more about the latest trends. Stay tuned, the revolution has begun.
Leave your comments
Post comment as a guest