Flexible Working

Flexible Working

 

Out with the old, in with the new: flexible working is here to stay

Productivity in the workplace has always been debated around the globe. Some countries work more than others but this doesn`t mean their results are necessarily better. This summer the Swedish city of Gothenburg introduced the 6 hour working day for its public sector workers. Among others, the measure aims to increase productivity and improve the overall health of the workers. The idea might seem daring but the benefits could encourage other countries to consider similar measures. Let`s have a look at some of the paybacks of flexible working:

 

Maximizing the talent pool

How many times have you seen a job advert that mentions some kind of flexible working conditions? Some people, especially in the creative industries, can struggle with a typical 8 hour work schedule. These candidates are often seen as unproductive and overlooked by employers. In fact, various studies found that many successful businesses thrive when it comes to attracting a diverse workforce, this starts right at the recruiting stages where flexibility can make the difference in attracting candidates from not previously considered pools of talent.

 

Virtual work

Some projects in your company may require some help from outside. Studies have shown that an increasing number of young managers now consider contracting staff for a determined period of time, such as in outsourcing. One thing is certain, evolving technology is closely linked to flexible working. Employees can now perform tasks outside of the office.

 

Work-life balance

Research has shown that modern time workers find it increasingly difficult to keep up with personal life. One solution to this issue is given by flexible working conditions. Some of the most pressing issues that employees quote when considering flexible working conditions can vary from small tasks as keeping up with bills or going to the gym to more pressing issues such as caring for an aging relative or going back to school.

Some may argue that flexible working is just an excuse and the trend will eventually fade away. However The Economist published an interesting insight into the idea of flexible working and how it was impacted by three main factors over the past decades:

  1. The decrease of manufacturing and the increase of service industries; developed economies have shown that many industries can function on a flexible working, where a designer or architect could work outside of the typical 9 to 5 schedule

  2. The growing number of employed women meant that employers needed to consider situations where time-off was mandatory

  3. Technology enabled workers to ask for flexible working; online communication has been getting cheaper and cheaper

The bottom line is that results speak for themselves. Some customer service positions require employees to be present at all times. However any business owner will ask for results and even industries such as hospitality, schools or museums need to quantify positive results from employees regardless of the time put in.

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