What does it mean to have flexible work options?
A flexible work schedule simply means that employees can complete their work, or number of hours, without committing to the traditional 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. working hours. It is important to acknowledge that this flexibility is more of an agreement between employees and their employers, and not addressed by the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Flexible work options can go beyond merely not working from exactly 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; employees can also be given the option to work from home. Studies have shown that these favorable working arrangements significantly increase performance, and lead to long-term success.
What are the benefits?
Flexible working options are mutually beneficial for employees and their employers. Employees tend to be happier with their lives, and employers can benefit from the increased productivity that stems from this satisfaction.
Studies have shown that employees with flexible working hours have significantly higher levels of energy, sleep quality and reduced stress. By gaining a work-life balance, employees tend to become increasingly satisfied with their jobs. This leads to them having higher intrinsic motivation, and even increased corporate morale. In addition, the notion of having control over their schedules enhances their sense of leadership, making their output likely to increase.
As for employers and the company itself, they benefit from the impact that this flexibility has on their team’s performance. With satisfied and motivated employees who adapt their work schedules to times and places where their individual productivity is maximized, organizations fast-track employees’ paths to success.
Moreover, employee satisfaction leads to higher retention rates within the company, meaning that the organization can save significantly on recruiting costs. Also, by allowing employees to work remotely or telecommute, companies gain massive savings on overhead costs. Therefore, it is safe to say that it is in the company’s financial interest to keep its employees happy by giving them flexible working options.
How can we train employees in flexible working arrangements?
Although there are many benefits associated with flexible work options, implementing such a major change within a corporation can create numerous challenges. These challenges stem from the novelty of this culture within organizations; in order to avoid problems, training is essential.
First and foremost, it is crucial to ensure that everyone on the team knows exactly what this flexibility means and what its limits are. An efficient way to do this is by providing employees with eLearning modules that explain the new culture, as well as the benefits it brings to individuals and the organization as a whole. As for manager training, case studies demonstrating how this strategy is beneficial yield positive results.
Flexible work options may lead to a decline in communication. In order to avoid this, it is important to have mandatory staff meetings which employees can join via online channels as well. In addition, it is vital for management to check on employee performance, and ask for frequent updates on a regular basis in order to keep track of the team’s progress.
At CoreAxis, team engagement is high valued. In an effort to keep up with new trends and technologies, we support flexible work schedules by delivering effective training solutions for employees to become immersed in this new culture. We aim to maximize learning by delivering strategic learning solutions that enable this training in the most efficient and productive way.
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