Workdays shouldn’t dictate your life, and life shouldn’t revolve around your work schedule. We all have responsibilities outside of our careers; family commitments, volunteering, hobbies, household chores, self-care, and the list goes on. Roadblocks, such as a sick child or flat tire, pop up without warning and can derail an entire day. These scenarios illustrate why, as a business owner, you should consider flexible scheduling options for your employees.
Furthermore, ever since the COVID-19 pandemic emptied the offices and left employees reevaluating their values relating to their work life, the vast majority came back wanting work schedule flexibility. In a survey of over 10,000 people, 95% said they prefer flexible hours, even more than the 78% of workers who want location flexibility.
With so many individuals desiring more control over their daily lives, how does flexible scheduling affect you, their employer, and do the benefits outweigh the costs? It’s time to dive into the pros and cons of implementing flexible scheduling in your business.
What Is Flexible Scheduling?
With growing technology, employees are more connected than ever, making working from a coffee shop or kitchen table the same as clocking in at the office. Flexible scheduling is the practice of creating a work program that allows employees to set their hours wherever they are. You can achieve this in a variety of ways, starting with allowing employees to choose when they want to start and end their days or giving them the option of occasionally working from home. Flexible scheduling empowers employees to manage their assignments in a format that works best for their personal timetable rather than a set workday.
The goal is to allow employees' personal lives and family commitments to be considered and accommodated by their employers. The freedom helps employees balance work with other responsibilities or passions outside of the office, for example:
- Having children at home during school hours
- Caring for elderly relatives who need assistance during certain times of day (or night)
- Setting aside time to volunteer
- Taking a personal growth class
Who Benefits From Flexible Schedules?
Flexible scheduling is a win-win for both parties, not just the employees. You, your employees, and the entire company can benefit by erasing complications from juggling work with life’s other responsibilities.
Benefits for employees
Work/life balance
Flexible scheduling helps employees balance family life with work life, greatly benefiting parents, especially single parents trying to oversee childcare costs and responsibilities. For example, permitting employees to split the workday into the first half of the day when kids are at school and finish their projects in the evening after the children are in bed allows parents to spend valuable time as a family. Additionally, your employee won’t be facing the distractions of playing two roles and can work without being interrupted.
Employees who can better manage their time are more productive at work because they don't feel rushed or stressed by having too much to do in too little time.
Reduced commute time
Employees who still want to work at the physical office can adapt their schedules to avoid rush hour and save hours of wasted time. With the extra hours in their days, employees can spend more time on other responsibilities or enjoying their hobbies.
Combined with time, they save on fuel and repair costs from daily wear and tear from time spent on the road.
Reclaimed control over their time
Think about it like this: some people are naturally early birds, while others are night owls. For some, waking up with the sun and getting to work is how they function best, but others may get in the flow during the evening while most of us are asleep.
By regaining autonomy over their schedules, you empower your employees. They can arrange their day to set work hours during the times that align with their energy cycles, working efficiently at their preferred time of day. They’re more likely to be productive and proactive in ensuring they finish their work while simultaneously pursuing other activities outside of work.
Benefits for employers
Higher recruitment and retention rates
Flexible scheduling is an effective tool to retain and recruit top talent. Employees are less likely to leave when they are happy with their job. Studies show that 83% of employees positively view their organization’s culture when offered scheduling flexibility versus only 47% of employees without the opportunity.
Not only does schedule freedom help retain talent, but it also helps with recruitment efforts. During the Great Resignation, where roughly 4 million Americans left their jobs, 26% reported a “lack of workplace flexibility” as their main reason for quitting. Flexible scheduling is now a significant driver for employees deciding where to work. In fact, 59% of recent study respondents said "flexibility " is more important to them than salary or other benefits.
Increased productivity
You may be concerned about the impact on productivity, however, studies show that workers with flexible schedules are just as productive, if not more so, as those with regular schedules. In reality, 55% of workers admit to working more hours when remote versus at their physical office.
Not only are employees reporting increased productivity, but the quality of their work is also increasing. Employees who don’t feel chained to their jobs are more likely to focus on the tasks at hand when they are working because it’s more enjoyable for them than if they work out of a sense of obligation or compulsion. With flexibility in working options, 71% of people find their team innovative, to just 57% of those who lack a flexible work opportunity.
Happier employees
Flexible scheduling is a great way to show employees that you care about their well-being, not just the company’s bottom line. Studies show flexible work schedules positively affect employee engagement, morale, and productivity. When employees feel trusted, they're more likely to be engaged at work and reciprocate that trust by working hard and giving you their best.
Burnout symptoms decrease to only 14% among employees with scheduling flexibility. In contrast, the number of individuals experiencing burnout more than doubles to 36% when reporting burnout symptoms without flexible options.
Are There Any Downsides To Flexible Scheduling?
While the benefits of flexible schedules are clear, it's essential to consider the downsides. For example, not all employees work without supervision, and you may run into a team member who takes advantage of the opportunity and slacks off on their tasks.
Scheduling can also become challenging, with multiple people requesting specific shifts to the point that providing everyone with what they want is unfeasible. Additionally, team or client meetings may become difficult to plan if everyone works at different times. One way to combat this issue is by requiring “core hours” for each employee that overlap with their team to accomplish group tasks. Then, employees can complete their other hours at their discretion.
When coworkers don’t see each other daily, company culture can weaken. As an employer, you must be intentional with your actions to build a positive rapport and maintain a strong team. For example, dedicating time for networking, team building, and proactive development opportunities are great ideas to show your employees your commitment to them, and culture is a priority regardless of where or when each employee works.
Employee Benefits Administration
Employees oftentimes have to choose between their work and family life, which can lead to stress, burnout, and low morale. Implementing an employee benefit such as flexible scheduling allows employees to maintain a healthy balance between work and life while maintaining productivity levels.
But managing employee benefits can take control of your schedule and keep you away from your other responsibilities. Fortunately, GMS’s team of HR experts are equipped with the tools to help you keep a pulse on the overall morale of your organization. We conduct employee engagement surveys, general audits, and help you implement the benefits your employees want.
Are you ready to increase your employee benefits without increasing your workload? Contact us today to speak with our experts about how we can help you make that happen.