The concept of a 9 to 5 working culture is gradually changing. Modern needs of employees and working essentialities have forced the change. The idea of working at odd hours was initially an alien concept. But, with time, the majority of the employees have adapted well to the concept. In fact, work schedule flexibility has become a by-product of the changing schedule.
The ability and workspace freedom of managing a task at your own pace, without exceeding the deadline is working hours flexibility. Employees all over the globe are getting used to the concept and have shown a drastic change in productivity. The productivity has improved with this flexibility. In fact, it has also led to improved job satisfaction.
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Work and flexibility – Essential for an employee?
Are you still one of those who think a workspace should be treated like a school with a fixed routine? Well, routine is significant for maintaining productivity but does it allow a scope to expand? Maybe not. With routine timing, an employee may get a limited scope to utilize their talent. Whereas with freedom of working at their individual pace and timing, an employee grows confident to try something better.
An employee can balance their work and personal life requirements with flexible timing at the workspace. With flexible working time, they can eliminate the worries of managing personal commitments (for example – taking their children to school or even practicing their hobby!) without compromising on-job productivity. If they had to stick to the fixed time, they may not always give their 100% and get unsatisfied with their profession. The liberty to balance work with every other essential aspect of life is possible with worktime flexibility. Thus, the majority of employees prefer it nowadays.
Does it compromise the productivity of the employee?
As long as an employee delivers you the task without exceeding the deadline, is there anything to worry about? An employer expects optimal productivity from an employee. So, the time of their work does not really matter. But, if there are meetings to attend or group discussions, there is a limitation to a flexible schedule. It needs adjustments from both sides to ensure zero compromises on the productivity index.
Performance, productivity, and job satisfaction
An employee unsatisfied with their working hours can never be productive. They will always look for a way to switch the company. It is a practical aspect, and everyone can agree to this, irrespective of the type of work they do. When you provide the freedom of working at their preferred hours of the day, the employee can gain authority over their service. It helps them grow confident and happy with their existing work setup. Hence, they get satiated with their job and offerings.
It is similar to offering them service benefits like health insurance coverage or employee discount coupons. They can utilize the insurance when needed or enjoy the coupons offered by the company. Think of the work time flexibility from this perspective. They can manage the requirements within their schedule without hampering the productiveness in the broader picture.
Every employee has a unique pace of working.
Understand that every employee is unique and has their choices. Some employees may love working for the fixed schedule of 9-5. In contrast, some may have better energy in working for flexible schedules. Also, the functioning ability and speed vary with the employees. Thus, binding them with a similar timeframe is unjustified. It makes them paranoid when they cannot finish work in time, while their colleagues can manage conveniently.
It is not a case of being less productive. If you analyze deeply, you will understand that it comes from individual psychology. Every human works differently, even if they have a similar task to accomplish. So, offering flexible work time helps them take their path of working. They can work with optimal satisfaction and achieve the best outcome at their speed.
Focus on the end-product more
As an HR, drafting policies to measure the performance of the employees, you have to understand what matters the most. Is it the timeframe or the timeline? Any organization or company requires numbers and output to determine the productivity of its workforce. The timing does not make a difference at the end of the day! Hence, it is wise to adapt to the modern mindset of employees and focus on the output.
Benefits – From the employer’s perspective
- Reduced absenteeism: If an employee can manage different tasks in one day, they would not require to take a leave. Instead, they can manage their official work in flexible working hours and utilize time to the fullest.
- Energy and creativity: Working hours flexibility helps an employee think better and work comfortably. They need not rush and thus can work with a free mind. They grow attached to the job with improved dedication and diligence.
- Diverse talent: When you offer working hours flexibility, more employees show interest in working with the company. As different people have different requirements, the flexible working hours fit perfectly with the needs. As an HR, you get access to a pool of talent and not limit the resources.
Benefits – From the employee’s perspective
- Work-life balance: Manage your priorities with a flexible schedule without compromising your quality of life. Maintain a balance to focus better on work with work flexibility.
- Freedom of work: Get an opportunity to focus better and find an improved solution with a free mind. Explore the diverse aspects of a problem to curate an effective solution with a flexible time that does not alter your working pace.
- Customized plan: Plan better with working hours flexibility, and work as per convenience. Ensure job satisfaction and find happiness in the task you are doing.
A wise step for both
Employees and employers can get benefitted from flexible working hours. However, it can be subjective with different employee groups and the type of industry. If you are an HR thinking of planning better policies and reform for employees to boost their performance without compromising work-life balance, consider working hours flexibility. It is a long-term success-yielding plan and a practical one. Think carefully and analyze to make the best decision.
