The Advantages of a Flexible Approach to Work

Employees enjoy flexible work conditions.

Flexible working arrangements are becoming commonplace. Both employers and employees can decide to take a flexible approach to work. Companies can advantage themselves by attracting a wider range of prospective candidates for flexible working positions, and individuals can find an income at a time of high unemployment by being more flexible in their approach to work. The advantages of approaching work with a degree of flexibility vary and are different for employers and employees.

Flexible Work Approaches of Employers

Companies are increasingly offering flexible work arrangements to their employees. Some examples of these approaches include flexible working hours, working from home, casual dress codes, job sharing and employing freelancers. Each approach requires careful consideration as to how it would be made to work. For example, companies that offer employees flexible working hours or the chance to work from home, may need to use various methods to ensure employees put in their full quota of work. For example, employees contracted to work certain hours may be monitored by logging into or out of a remote online system, or a professional instant messenger service may be used. If an employee is paid on a project-delivery basis, monitoring may be less of an issue.

Staff Engagement with the Employer

According to a 2006 UK-wide survey on employee engagement by the Chartered Institute of People Management, offering flexible approaches to work has been shown to increase employee engagement with a company. Furthermore a 2009 report on recruitment retention and turnover by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development described how a company that offers flexible working arrangements for its workers is seen by its employees as caring more about the priorities and needs of those who work for it. The resulting higher levels of employee engagement go on to reduce turnover levels of staff, which lowers recruitment and training costs.

Attracting a Wider Talent-Pool

Flexible working hours, home working and job-sharing effectively means people in a wider range of circumstances are able to fill a position. For example, those living further afield, mothers returning to work, people with family obligations or those who are disabled may all now apply. This increases the talent pool from which a position can be filled. Flexible working practices are attractive to most job-seekers. The Great Place to Work Institute sees job flexibility and other perks and benefits offered to employees as contributing factors that define a workplace culture. The attractiveness of a firm as a good place to work increases the recruitment talent pool. The larger the recruitment talent pool, the better the chances of finding a high quality candidate. This eventually improves the overall quality of the work force.

Other Advantages for the Employer

Casual dress policies may improve the atmosphere at work. People are more comfortable in their own clothes, and everyone is put on an equal, human level. Home workers require fewer overheads, such as desk or office space, PCs, electricity and any subsidized beverages or food. However, laptops and a means of technical support may be needed. Employing contractors and freelancers may be beneficial in some lines of work. Freelancers can be responsible for their own tax, medical insurance and pension, and may only be paid for completed work. They may also require no overheads.

Flexible Work Approaches of Individuals

An individual may find that adopting a flexible approach to work may be extremely beneficial to their work-life balance. What kind of approach is suitable may depend upon their personal and financial circumstances. They might decide that they would benefit from working in a position offering highly paid unsociable shifts, flexible working hours that fit around their family or travel needs, home working or part-time hours. Alternatively they may be far more flexible and be happy to explore freelance opportunities, working abroad or taking on multiple part-time positions.

Advantages for the Individual

Jobs that offer flexible working hours and locations allow individuals to schedule their work around family obligations, travel arrangements or other factors in their lives. This can be great for decreasing stress due to rushing around. There may also be opportunities to reduce child-care costs. Individuals who are flexible enough to consider relocating or working abroad may be able to take advantage of skills shortages in foreign countries and advance up their chosen career ladder faster. For example those involved in the health-care industries may find skills shortages in Australia and Canada, and may be eligible for a work visa.

References

• Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (2006), Annual Survey Report: How Engaged are British Employees? , Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, London.
• Chartered Institute of People Management (2009), Annual survey report: recruitment, retention and turnover, 2009-4848, Chartered Institute of People Management, London.
• The Great Place to Work: Culture Assessment