8 Benefits of Flexible Work Schedule for Business & Employees

Flexibility in the workplace is a tool that improves the success of the company, whether you are a manager or a business owner. Employees are dissatisfied and tired of the conventional workplace's strict operating hours and obligatory attendance requirements. Adapting a flexible working model is going to result in a variety of advantages and incentives.

In this article by Autonomous, we are going to break down what a flexible work schedule is and discuss the benefits of a flexible work schedule.

What Is a Flexible Work Schedule?

A flexible work schedule encourages office workers to continue their daily tasks for the organization when they feel they are most productive, feel the most energized, and appreciate their work. 

Early birds are thought to be diligent workers, while night owls are thought to be slackers by certain managers. However, evidence suggests this is not the case and, it is a matter of employees' personal, cultural, and preferential needs. With the introduction and growing popularity of working models such as hybrid remote work and flexible schedule working models, we are beginning to see new trends in the workforce in 2021. 

The conventional 9-to-5, 40-hour workweek is now being replaced by an alternative flexible workweek. A flexible working model allows staff to adjust their arrival and departure hours for their work. How does this work?  Employees are required to work a certain number of hours per pay period and must be available for work during "core time". Core time is the central part of a working day when an employee must be present. 

In short, the best way to define a flexible work schedule is as a contract between an employer and an employee. There are typically three parts of a contract. Employees can:

1. Choose where they want to work.

2. Make a work schedule that is convenient for them.

3. They plan their work shift in whichever way they choose.

Types of Flexible Working Model

As an employer or part of the human resources management department, you can believe that a flexible schedule resembles that of a freelancer. And, indeed, freelancing is one type of flexible work.

If you are wondering how to implement such a framework in place as a manager or business owner. It is vital to research the working model to provide clarification and to gauge if the working model could work for your organization. There are several various forms, solutions, and alternative models of a flexible work schedule, here are nine different types of flexible working models: 

1. Part-Time Working and Job Sharing

2. Remote Working (Work From Home)

3. Work from Anywhere

4. Compressed Working Weeks (working a forty-hour week in four days instead of five)

5. Temporary Work

6. Seasonal or Promotional Jobs

7. Hybrid Work Models

8. Gig Work

9. Alternative Schedule Jobs

As a manager, you have the option to offer one or more of these flexible work options to your employees, but it is essential to keep track of their various working statuses and work arrangements. The flexible work arrangements benefits for organizations go further than having happy workers. In the next section, we are going to discuss the pros and cons of a flexible schedule.

What Are the Benefits Of a Flexible Work Schedule?

Flexible employment is a new work trend that is picking up a lot of attention and attraction. It is no longer for gig workers or freelancers anymore. Many "traditional" firms are now providing flexible hours to their staff. As a manager, you may be reluctant to provide flexible schedules to the employees and maybe think that they are the only ones who benefit from such a working model. However, there are various advantages and disadvantages of flexible work schedules for both the manager and the employee. 

Workers indeed benefit from schedule flexibility, but numerous intelligent and innovative companies understand that they benefit as well. The advantages of flexible employment for businesses help your company keep ahead of the competition in various ways, including becoming a green company, getting an edge in recruiting, and improving diversity. Here is a list of some of the benefits of a flexible work schedule:

1. Improves Employee Retention and Reduces Employee Turnover

2. Attracts Qualified and Top Talent

3. Increases Diversity and Innovation

4. Increases Productivity

5. Improves Employee Engagement

6. Is an Eco-Friendly Work Model 

7. Employee Empowerment

8. Improved Reputation and Public Image

What is a Hybrid Workforce?

A hybrid work model could become the future of the working world. Before learning how to sustain and grow a workforce you must understand the meaning and significance of a hybrid workforce. A hybrid workforce, also known as a hybrid workforce model, is made up of a group of remote staff who collaborate with a few onsite employees. To satisfy the company's demands and increase competitiveness, the remote team and the office workers collaborate and integrate their jobs.

Managers can think of it as the ideal blend of onsite and remote working because it combines the best aspects of all job styles to provide a productive and pleasant working atmosphere. Hybrid working is also a great way to start moving from a virtual to an onsite job model and vice versa, as it allows you to prepare and test how your workers handle returning to the workplace and work from home.

The Bottom Line

Overall, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, and a competent manager is going to deal with the drawbacks. Employees have started to accept and begun to recognize the value of flexible schedules as part of their compensation packages. Employees are going to adore you, and the company is going to prosper from higher efficiency due to the resulting good morale when implementing a hybrid or flexible working model to your organization