Flexible working hours, called “flextime”, allow employees to choose their start and end times. Flexible working is an arrangement where employees choose their working patterns and hours. It can be done in several ways, such as working part-time or compressed hours from home. This method eliminates the traditional 9-5 work model.
Flexible working hours are increasingly popular in today’s workforce, as they offer several benefits for employees and employers. This working method has benefits, including increased productivity, lower absence levels and improved work-free balance. From types and benefits to tips for implementing flexible hours for your organisation, this guide covers everything.
What Are Flexible Working Hours: Types And Benefits
Flexible working hours are work schedules that allow employees to choose their start and end times, within certain limits. This helps them balance their work lives and personal lives. Here are different flexible working hours including flextime, compressed workweek, job sharing, remote work and hybrid work. Take a look:
- Flextime
Flextime is a work schedule that allows employees to choose their start and end times as long as they work the agreed number of hours. They can select their shift timings and can come and leave the office at whatever time they find convenient. They have to be present at work during the core hours.
- Compressed Workweek
A compressed workweek is a weekly schedule that makes a full-time workweek into fewer days which means working longer or fewer days per week. Employees work more hours per day but the number of days gets fewer.
- Job Sharing
It is a type of work arrangement where two employees split the responsibilities and hours of a single full-time position, essentially working part-time hours each to complete the full job duties.
- Remote Work
Remote work is a type of work arrangement where employees work from a remote location such as home or a coworking space. This can include a variety of jobs including customer service, accounting and virtual assistance.
- Hybrid Work
Hybrid work refers to a flexible work model where employees split their time between working in a physical office and remotely from home or another location. It combines elements of both in-office and remote work arrangements.
The benefits of flexible working hours also need to be noted, here we have listed them.
Benefits Of Flexible Working Hours
- Flexible working allows employees to improve their work-life balance. They can better align their work hours with personal responsibilities, leading to less stress and improved overall well-being.
- When employees can work during their peak productivity times, they may give more quality work in less time.
- Having control of your work schedule is so satisfying, isn't it? Employee satisfaction will be higher and you can promote better motivation in the organisation.
- Employees are working according to themselves and from their home or coworking space so the number of absentees will be less and more work will be there.
- More potential candidates will show interest in getting a job in the organisation after seeing the satisfaction of employees and the working environment.
We have talked about benefits and types but wait! How to manage these flexible working hours effectively? Well, we have some tips for you.
Manage Flexible Working Hours Effectively: Useful Tips
The benefits looked amazing but drawbacks are waiting for you if you are thinking of promoting flexible working hours. The drawbacks can be communication challenges, decreased job security, reduced collaboration, lack of structure and blurred work-life boundaries.
For employers, it can be difficult to manage employee schedules, there will be reduced opportunities for team collaboration and complications with collaborating meetings. Here is how you can manage flexible working hours:
- Establish Clear Policies
Define the parameters of flexible working, including core hours, expected productivity levels and communication protocols to avoid confusion and miscommunication.
- Open Communication
Encourage regular check-ins, clear expectations with employees and transparent communication between managers and employees to address concerns early and maintain alignment.
- Time Management Tools
Utilise time-tracking systems to ensure accountability and monitor work hours.
- Set Boundaries
Draw attention to the importance of setting personal boundaries to maintain a work-life balance, even with a flexible schedule.
- Feedback Loop
Regularly get feedback from employees and managers to identify areas for improvement and adapt the flexible working policy as needed.
You can still manage the working schedules effectively if flexible working hours are the choice. Flexible working hours are beneficial in many ways including promoting productivity and lowering the number of absentees.
If you are looking for an effective solution for the working environment then choose time and attendance management software to track the attendance and make payroll and other decisions accordingly.
