Flexible benefits schemes can help to boost employee recruitment and retention by increasing the range of benefits available to employees. The idea of being ‘flexible with flexibility’ is really about old fashioned give and take. In addition to flexible working conditions optimising the output of your employees there are a number of financial benefits to be gained from introducing flexible working. True flexible working puts you in charge of when you work during the day. 51% of UK employees want more flexible work options; The benefits of hot desking; Workers may tend to show an increase in their productivity levels, as well as … googletag.enableServices(); As her email to staff explained: “The best insights come from meeting new people and impromptu team meetings.” googletag.defineSlot('/21798641100/ArticleAd', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-1553701159481-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); Flexible working: benefits for employees The main benefit of working flexibly for your employees is that it gives them the chance to fit other commitments and activities around work … This means taking off the rose-tinted spectacles and thinking about what some of the disadvantages may be and how they may affect you. Being able to work flexibly may, at first glance, appear to be the answer to the work/life balance conundrum with no apparent downsides. The Audit Lab creates culture of flexibility for working parents. googletag.defineSlot('/21798641100/Sidebar2', [[300, 250], [300, 600]], 'div-gpt-ad-1552319564911-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); Many employees view being offered flexible working opportunities as a sign they are valued by the company. Collaboration in the workplace may mean the added benefit of a more flexible work schedule, as members are generally trained to cover for each other’s skills and strengths. But it's important for employers to recognise the business benefits of flexible work arrangements too. Flexible working allows individual employees to play to their strengths in order to ensure maximum output. What Is Workplace Flexibility? For starters, telecommuting (i.e. }); We interview Melanie Tansey, Group HR Director - Hachette UK. When assessing adaptability and flexibility, recruiters may look for someone who can show: Intellectual flexibility – keeping an open mind is important. For this customer-centric reason, jobs that require customer-facing responsibilities only allow certain types of flextime. 8. A recent CBI report has found that while half of UK employers offer flexible working arrangements, only 1-in-10 job listings mention flexible working. She has covered HR for The Balance Careers since 2000. Fewer buildings to maintain, less commuting to and from work, and fewer used office supplies to dispose of are just some of the ways flexible work policies help … Case studies Employee wellbeing. You’re the boss. When you are working, it’s highly probable that there could be shifts in the dynamics of the work environment. It doesn’t just work for those with caring responsibilities, it can benefit all groups of workers. }); Publication The Pros and Cons of a Flexible Work Schedule. Types of Flexible Working The first thing that comes to mind when talking about a flexible schedule is obviously telecommuting and being able to work from home every now and again. There are business benefits too, ranging from greater workplace morale to increased staff retention. Cloud technology allows workers to touch documents outside the office environment. Flexible working isn’t just good for employees, it is good for business. For example, the law only permits employees to request flexible working formally after being employed for 26 weeks. And this alone is one of the greatest gifts anyone can give to their business. The sooner employers understand the importance of employee work-life balance, the sooner they will benefit from a happier, more productive workforce. In some areas, commutes of more than an hour each way are not uncommon. A recent study carried out by Investors in People revealed that 31% of employees polled would rather avail of flexible working arrangements, such as working from home, rather than take a pay rise. Such benefits can include increased job satisfaction, an improved work/life balance and an increase in employee morale & motivation. It helps employers stay active longer in the work day. Susan Heathfield is an HR and management consultant with an MS degree. Benefits of … Businesses that tailor their practices to the needs of their staff is a signal that you want them to stay. In a recent survey by FlexJobs and WorldatWork, a paltry 3 percent of companies were trying to assess the importance of flexible work as it related to the company. The benefits of flexible working . Different working hours and the extended use of technology might even mean your employer can offer extended hours, services or a greater range to clients or customers. googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); This may lead to situations where they exploit the flexibility by focusing on personal stuff and relegating work to being a secondary concern, significantly impacting productivity. Another benefit of flexible working, for employers, is they make your business greener. Sandra J Beale FCIPD explains that the new legislation will replace the current statutory procedure where employers will need to consider flexible working … What Health Benefits Can You Achieve From Being Flexible?. We now live in a digitally connected global economy that operates 24/7. 3rd September 2019 6:00 am 9th September 2019 10:17 am. 81% thought it would help them be a better spouse, partner, or significant other. Whole days working from home are not an option. Neil explains that for employees, the benefits of flexible working are often focused on improving their work-life balance, as well as looking after their health and wellbeing. Using remote worker options, the business can hire workers from areas where hourly wages are lower and reduce their compensation overhead. With flexible work schedules, employees stand to experience a good number of benefits. These challenges have multiplied during the coronavirus pandemic as unheard of numbers of employees, for reasons of safety, are working remotely from home. and cover topics including: Decision Science, Knowledge Management, HR Reporting & Matrixed Organisations. When discussing benefits that employees crave most, the ability to work a more flexible schedule regularly appears at the top of many wishlists.What’s even better, this improvement can be just as beneficial and positive for employers. Flexible working creates better economics. Let's now look at 4 specific benefits of a flexible workforce: 1. XpertHR survey. 76% thought it would help them be more available to their friends. 10/25/2013 10:52 am ET Updated Dec 25, 2013 As I got ready to write a post in support of National Work and Family Month 2013, I reflected a bit on my own experiences with flexible work policies and my goals as a small business owner. Built-in flexibility also reduces employee burnout due to overload. It’s hard if the employees working there would not be able to accept such changes, leading to a decrease in work output and motivation in general. Buy this issue now, click here. 2. Flexible people are highly prized by managers and businesses. With flexible work schedules, employers experience benefits as well. Flexible working - giving flexibility over where, when and the hours people work - is increasingly in demand but the number of quality flexible jobs falls well short of that demand. Earning potential can remain the same. Flexible working: benefits for employees The main benefit of working flexibly for your employees is that it gives them the chance to fit other commitments and activities around work … What will influence future employee benefits? Office-oriented people sometimes view their work-at-home colleagues as slackers because they can't physically see their activity and productivity. The business benefit from offering flexible working is that it may assist employee retention efforts. Here at DB Charles, we think more work needs to be done to improve the understanding of how flexible working can benefit an organisation. Flexible work is an added incentive to staff and a gesture from your business that they are valued, not just as employees, but as people with interests and obligations outside of work. Employee satisfaction is key to recruitment and retention. As Flexible working improves employee satisfaction and retention, the need to recruit new employees and the associated costs are diminished. By allowing employees to determine their own schedule and work environment, you appeal to the entrepreneurial spirit—which can be good for your employees. With employer permission they can travel into work and avoid rush hour traffic, therefore arriving more refreshed. How Collaborative Technology Can Revive Internal Communication For Remote Workers, 2021 will be “a year of movement”, despite pandemic, Lockdown appears to have improved employer/employee communications, HR Director – Hospitality business up to, £100,000 – £110,000 pl, HR teams must deliver a consistent employee experience during a time of uncertainty, Leaders self-medicating with alcohol and substances on the rise, Why you should always be prepared for a payroll audit, How your people data can help improve gender equality and diversity in the workplace, TALENT INTELLIGENCE IN A COMPETITIVE WORLD – Roundtable Report, Employers named and shamed for failing to pay minimum wage, Caring for employees amidst a Covid Christmas. ARTICLE BY: Viola Lloyd | Published: 24 May 2011. var googletag = googletag || {}; However, care must be taken that the drive to lower wages does not harm the quality product of the service you provide. Firms will be more efficient and competitive. Where the policy follows the statutory procedures only, the full benefits of flexible working may not be realised. Let’s take a look at some of these benefits. Offering flexible working to employees can boost morale and improve their physical and mental well-being. Flexible working benefits employees with a better work life balance so that they have more time to spend with their families or undertake hobbies. Flexibility improves alignment, … Adrian Wakeling, senior policy adviser, looks at the key messages for employers. 7. Being granted a flexible working environment also allows your employers to better balance work demands with personal demands ensuring improved concentration on work tasks during work hours. XpertHR benefits and allowances survey 2017. Employees have more freedom to work in an environment that is conducive to increasing their output and work rate, while employers can benefit from a happier and harder working workforce. Employees can manage their time more efficiently if given the choice of working remotely or choosing their own hours. Attracting talent. Team efforts may require advanced planning and coordination of the employee's scheduled workdays and hours. Benefit of Being Organized #11: Promotes Charity, Giving, & Help Others. Those who have other responsibilities or out-of-work interests may see flexible working as an absolute must or a deal-breaker for any organization they work for. One reason people like to work for themselves is the control issue. Being flexible with shift patterns, start and finish times, and the ability to work from home, employers will open the floodgates to a whole new workforce. Stretching your body to become more supple and flexible offers many physical benefits. Overhead costs may drop when you employ remote workers. Reduced overhead Hiring independent professionals for specific projects or seasons results in lower fixed employment costs by eliminating the price tag on health care and other benefits that full-time traditional employees require. Some work better in the morning and find that their concentration and motivation tends to become depleted by the afternoon, whereas other employees may work best from mid-morning to early evening. Download the Salary Guide now. Care for your family We give you time away to focus on the people who matter most with leave for new parents and family caregiver leave. Managing a fragmented and isolated workforce during this winter is a big concern. Those who have other responsibilities or out-of-work interests may see flexible work arrangements as an absolute must or a deal-breaker for any organisation they work for. If these employees are allowed to work from home, that saves two hours of time, gas, and wear and tear on the road. Benefits from flex working are valuable for retaining staff. However, if a couple both have flexible schedules, one party can go into the office at 6:00 a.m. and the other can get the kids ready for school. From being a green company to having an edge in recruitment and improving diversity, the benefits of flexible work for companies can help your business stay ahead of the competition. Find out more Each year up to £3.5bn of Pension Credit and Housing Benefit goes unclaimed by older people. Five benefits of work-life balance ... whether it’s to cover moving expenses or gain flexible working hours. Your employees will love you; the employer will benefit from the overall positive morale which is linked to increased productivity. While it’s true that employees benefit from flexible schedules, smart employers know that offering flexible schedules benefits them, too. I have known a lot of people who, though technically working part-time, in reality work far more hours in order to be ‘flexible… Readers noted the importance of being able to drop into a yoga class midday, or being able to maintain their running schedule sans a 4:00 a.m. waking hour. You will retain your superior employees. Attracting … The Work Flexibility video outlines the various types of flexible work arrangements that can be made between managers and their employees, as well as their benefits. Of course, with the commute to a home workspace, employees avoid the traffic and the stresses of commuting during rush hours. Working from home—while becoming more common prior to the coronavirus pandemic—is still a foreign concept to many people. Any change of approach to flexible working (in the short or long term) may require a review of policy. The survey found that: 1. A flexible work environment has many benefits. Radioactive PR boosted work-life balance with four-day working week. This can range from allowing staff to work different hours from the norm, to supporting them to work from home some or all of the time. For more information on how to strategically implement Flexible Working Practices to benefit your business, please click here to download our free Whitepaper. Most importantly, flexible working arrangements are inexpensive to implement and offer a quick, measurable return on investment in the form of employee output. Employees get an increased feeling of personal control over their schedule and work environment. Yet flexible working doesn’t have to exclusively benefit the employee. Flexible scheduling has become part of what employees are looking for in their comprehensive employee benefits packages. Scheduling: Now employers could show they are flexible with the schedule to benefit the employees and keep them happy. There have been some changes to claiming certain benefits due to the coronavirus pandemic. But did you know that by introducing flexible working to your business you can also enjoy a number of business and financial benefits? By recruiting, retaining and optimising quality employees your business will enjoy greater productivity and success. googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; These are the advantages for employers and employees that negotiating a flexible work schedule provides. Additionally, hiring short-term remote workers reduces the cost of overtime and absenteeism common with onsite employees. Benefits of Workplace Flexibility. 87% of respondents said it would create more time to spend with family or friends. However, before making a flexible working request, it is important to consider all aspects of what’s involved. If you have a great flexible work pattern, you are less likely to give this up. 4. However, another recent survey by Staples found that whilst 43% of employees say the ability to work remotely is a must-have, only 38% of employers allow it. A flexible working option enables optimum use of time and consequently, better quality of work. As a result, more and more people are working flexibly. The benefits of having more time with one’s family are endless. Childcare costs may also be reduced. The environmental benefits of a flexible workplace include 1. a reduction in gasoline usage, carbon emissions, and air pollution. 01454 292063   [email protected], Recruitment the benefits to the people. You need to make clear to employees that for all but a handful of jobs, working from home still requires childcare because you can't work effectively while also entertaining a toddler. Giving up some control of work schedules gives increased employee morale, engagement, and commitment to the organization. Employers struggle with fairness when only certain employees can work remotely. 5. 5 Benefits of Flexible Working #1. Just make sure you’ve done your research before you make your requests. When discussing benefits that employees crave most, the ability to work a more flexible schedule regularly appears at the top of many wishlists.What’s even better, this improvement can be just as beneficial and positive for employers. Fewer people driving means the drive is easier for those people who are commuting. Top 10 Benefits of Flexible Work Policies for Companies. In addition to flexible working conditions optimising the output of your employees there are a number of financial benefits to be gained from introducing flexible working. var googletag = googletag || {}; Compressed workweeks can make client handovers complicated—clients expect service 5 days a week during business hours and can be fussy when a particular employee isn't in on Friday. If you have a flexible schedule, you can go to a parent-teacher conference during the day, take a yoga class, or wait at home until the washing machine repair person comes. Epilogue If you want the best of talents to work for your organization, you not only need to offer better paycheques but also provide extra benefits, such as a flexible work arrangement. Stay fit and young at any age by making flexibility one of your workout goals. In many workplace settings, it is hard to distinguish idle chit-chat from meaningful dialogue. The option also reduces employee turnover, absenteeism, and tardiness by allowing workers to flex hours around home and family obligations. One person's 8-hour day is finished by 2:00 p.m. and can meet the bus at 3:00 p.m., while the other start their workday at 9:30 a.m. An Overall Summation of Flexible Work Arrangement Benefits: Just like we have discussed above, there are several advantages that come with flexible work arrangements. In an average day, the U.S. uses 391 million gallons of gasoline. 7. Depending on the flexible work schedule chosen, it may decrease external childcare hours and costs. Giving up some control of work schedules gives increased employee morale, engagement, and commitment to the organization. The option also reduces employee turnover, absenteeism, and tardiness by allowing workers to flex hours around home and family obligations. working from home) can save time and money in commuting costs, and also allows employees to meet the demands of their busy lives. The study tends to confirm judgements that many people have been making for some time about the benefits of flexible working. How Employees Can Readjust to Office Life, How to Optimize Productivity While Working From Home, Employee Work Schedules That Encourage Flexibility and Success, See the Advantages and Disadvantages of a Paid Time Off Policy (PTO), How to Implement a Long-Term Remote Work Plan, How to Negotiate to Remote Work From Home During COVID-19, How to Maintain Company Culture While Remote Working, Reasons Why Teleworking Should Be an Option for Employees, How to Find Work-From-Home Jobs That Are Hiring Now, Tips to Negotiate a Flexible Work Schedule, How to Improve Remote Team Collaboration and Workflow, allows employees to work flexible schedules, determine their own schedule and work environment. Flexible work configurations allow employees to work when they accomplish most, feel freshest, and enjoy working. More Employment Opportunities for Greater Talent Diversity Buying or selling annual leave. Some managers, who are used to seeing when their staff members come to work, watching what staff do all day at work, and knowing when people leave for home, have trouble adjusting to the new management style which requires trusting relationships. I now work a flexible 30 hour week, I keep tabs on how many hours I do a week but it is up to me when and where I work them. Offering flexible work schedules will increase your ability to recruit outstanding employees. You might be amazed at how much faster a commute can be if you can drive to the office at 10 a.m. instead of at 8 a.m. during rush hour. Flexible working arrangements can boost employee well being by reducing stress and strengthen loyalty. By allowing your employees to work at home, or work fewer hours overall, they spend less time commuting. Similar to Flexitime, Working from home grants employees to have a better work/life balance. When employers and employees work together and strike a … Advantages of Flexible Labour Markets. Each employee is different. Being in control of how you manage your time also reduces the need to cram in work between strict office hours, which only increases stress. There are two distinctive sides to the benefits from having multi-skilled people within a company. Flexible working is meant to support employees in achieving a better work-life balance. Flexible scheduling includes the ability to adjust the days and hours of being in the office and also allows workers to work remotely. Here, Sarah McCarthy highlights 10 benefits that employers commonly offer in a flex scheme. That in turn means employee turnover is reduced, as is the cost to recruit and train new hires. Not all customers want to buy your products or speak with you about your products within a fixed 9-5 time frame. Flexitime reduces the costs to your business associated with employee absenteeism, tardiness and sick leave. Remote workers can make neighbors and friends think you aren't actually working, thus causing problems with relationships. Flexible working conditions and their effects on employee health and wellbeing (Review) by Joyce K, Pabayo R, Critchley JA, Bambra C, is a welcome addition to the knowledge base of flexible working. You will develop an image as an employer of choice with family-friendly flexible work schedules. googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); Proctor and Stevenson uses flexible working plan to improve wellbeing. Flexibility means employees can take a break when they need it without incurring the wrath of a manager. Other types of flexible working include Job sharing, part time, annualised hours and staggered hours. The most popular form of flexible working in the modern work environment is Flexitime or Flextime. The freedom to bend and stretch counts for more than tying your shoes or mastering the tango. Employees who can also organise their work around their personal lives, interests and working … Flexible working is a way of working that suits an employee’s needs, for example having flexible start and finish times, or working from home. In terms of flexible working, the potential advantages for employees are well-known - including an improved work-life balance, greater autonomy and employee motivation. Another popular flexible working arrangement is “Remote Working” or “Working from Home”. Many managers feel that early birds are hard workers and night owls are slackers. How can I tell what employee benefits are available? Some workers will want to work earlier. Acces… Another benefit for flexible workers is the opportunity to take more breaks; one study found that 17-minute breaks are a great way to keep moving and be productive. Employees save money by having a reduced consumption of commuting time and fuel costs. Employees who avail of flexible working arrangements are provided with a greater sense of control over their working day and are likelier to work harder and increase their output, thus benefiting the business. With flexible work schedules, employers experience benefits as well. Overall, the advantages generally outweigh the disadvantages and a good manager can handle the disadvantages. Other kinds of jobs such as assembly-line manufacturing and hands-on healthcare such as nursing share the same disadvantages. Flexitime will suit those employees who work better at certain times of the day, while also helping to maintain a better work life balance. Because for employees the benefits of flexible working are … The flow of projects and work may increase as employees are able to work when they accomplish most, feel freshest, and enjoy working. Improved competitiveness, such as being able to react to changing market conditions more effectively. 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