Flexible Working
When did most of us hear “flexing working”?
There are employers that adopted flexible or hybrid working policies long before COVID-19. But this term became popular a couple of years ago. Prior to COVID-19, most of us used to believe that working from home or flexible working hours would reduce productivity and the effectiveness of delivering results in the business. But the pandemic proved otherwise. It helped us spend more time with family and loved ones as the travel time from home to work and back decreased. People earn more time to follow their passions, enjoy leisure, relax, and release stress, which eventually helps them recharge themselves to face a new day.
Flexible working offers different benefits
- Increase the number of potential, exceptionally talented candidates when you offer flexible working
- Retain employees in your organisation.
- Create or build the company's brand name as a fair and flexible employer.
- Employers can hire candidates from any destination or location.
- Lowered commuting cost
E.g., practical scenarios of how employees prefer flexible work.
Source: 2024 CONDECO GROUP LTD.
Types of flexible working, according to GOV.UK
There are different ways of working flexibly.
- Job sharing: two people do one job, splitting the hours.
- Remote working and working from home: working anywhere other than the office.
- Hybrid working is a combination of working from home and the office.
- Part-time: working less than usual.
- Compressed hours: working full time for fewer days of the week so the employee can take a day off.
- Flexi time: the employee chooses the working time within the agreed-upon limit for every day.
- Annualised hours: employees have a certain number of hours to work every year, but they have some flexibility about when they work.
- Staggered hours: these employees have different start, finish, and break times.
- Phased retirement: the normal retirement age has been changed, and the employees can decide when to retire, and after that, they can work part-time with minimum hours.
The importance of flexible working
Of course, flexible work arrangements were introduced in the COVID period where employees couldn’t attend to their usual working place.
This new revolution presents exciting opportunities for many, and it has to be done with a clear mind and a continuous improvement philosophy.
It will take time for a company to find what is the right fit for their organisation, people, and clients.
Why your recruitment process should focus on flexible working
“Flexible working has not only become a necessity for organisations, but it has also become a source of competition.
During the ‘great resignation’ of 2021, employees left their current jobs in favour of new ones that supported both their personal and professional lives, and we can expect this trend to continue.
Potential candidates will be looking for evidence of a flexible remote working policy as well as how you demonstrate your inclusive values.
They want to know that they will be valued and supported from the moment they join your company. Have you made this clear and easy to find for them?
We can attract a more diverse pool of talent by having a flexible working policy. Consider the people we can reach if we are no longer constrained by geography or time.
For example, a parent can now work around picking up their children from school, or a person who is unable to relocate for a job due to socioeconomic circumstances can now join the team remotely.”
Do flexible working really work? LET’S HEAR IT FROM AN EMPLOYEES
Source : (Mothership, 2023)
Does flexible working actually have cons?
Yes, it does. Maybe it’s hidden, but there is. A human being lives as a community. And people with different cultures, backgrounds, and religions behave in different ways. Communication helps build relationships and builds people's skills. Not meeting someone face-to-face increases miscommunication and misunderstandings. We may not realise it, but in the long run, not getting the chance to interact with people face-to-face will create a community with no sensitivity to people’s feelings, identify emotions and feelings, and build relationships.
especially in a country like Sri Lanka, not all could afford to arrange a home office with less or no disturbance, suitable ambience, and facilities like in an office environment. This will have a negative effect on their productivity as well.
References
Ali, Z. (2024), What is flexible working?, Inclusive Employers. Available at: https://www.inclusiveemployers.co.uk/blog/why-flexible-working-works/ (Accessed: April 8, 2024).
Flexible work: productivity and employee satisfaction Condeco (2023) Condeco Software. Available at: https://www.condecosoftware.com/flexible-work/ (accessed April 8, 2024).
Flexible working (no date) Acas. Available at: https://www.acas.org.uk/flexible-working (accessed April 8, 2024).
Flexible working and the right to request (2024) working families Available at: https://workingfamilies.org.uk/articles/flexible-working-a-guide-for-employees/ (Accessed: April 8, 2024).
Flexible working and work-life balance (2022) nidirect. Available at: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/flexible-working-and-work-life-balance (Accessed: April 8, 2024).
Mothership, M. (2023) Do flexible work arrangements actually work?, YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GpucMkgVoM (Accessed: 08 April 2024).
Person (2023): Managing flexible work arrangements, Welcome to SHRM. Available at: https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/tools/toolkits/managing-flexible-work-arrangements (Accessed: April 8, 2024).
Service, G.D. (2018) Flexible Working, GOV.UK. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/flexible-working/types-of-flexible-working (accessed April 8, 2024).
Writer, H.Y.L. (2023): 7 most popular flexible working arrangements right now, Startups.co.uk. Available at: https://startups.co.uk/people/flexible-working/ (Accessed: April 8, 2024).
While flexible working may seem like a great solution on the surface, it's important to consider the potential drawbacks that come with it. One major concern is the impact on interpersonal relationships and communication. When employees are not physically present in the office, it can lead to misunderstandings and miscommunication, which can ultimately harm team dynamics and productivity. Additionally, not everyone has the resources to set up a proper home office, especially in countries like Sri Lanka where access to suitable workspace and facilities may be limited. This inequality in working conditions can further exacerbate productivity issues and create disparities among employees. So while flexible working may offer benefits in terms of work-life balance, it's crucial to address these potential downsides to ensure the success of remote work arrangements.
ReplyDeleteThank You Lathan yes it impacts the interpersonal relationships as you said also its important to discuss the drawbacks in detailed.
Deletewhile go through your article regarding flexible work life I feel it is a current topic to balance the day today life effectively very useful article.
ReplyDeleteThan you Manoji hope you enjoyed reading
DeleteThis COMMENT provides a good general overview of flexible working benefits. However, to strengthen it for an MBA assignment, consider these points:
ReplyDeleteDeeper analysis of benefits: Quantify the benefits with data on talent acquisition, retention, or productivity improvements from credible sources.
Acknowledge challenges: While acknowledging communication challenges, explore solutions like virtual team-building activities.
Consider cultural nuances: Briefly discuss how cultural differences might affect the implementation of flexible work models.
Focus on solutions: For Sri Lanka's affordability concerns, suggest solutions like co-working spaces or company subsidies for home office equipment
Thank You mahoushada i will explore more on the above thank you for highlighting.
DeleteFlexible working offers numerous benefits, including increased productivity, improved work-life balance, and reduced commuting costs. However, it also presents challenges such as potential communication issues and disparities in access to suitable remote work environments. It's essential for organizations to address these challenges effectively to ensure the success of flexible working arrangements.
ReplyDeleteThank You Thushari hope you enjoyed reading the blog.
DeleteYour blog beautifully delves into the significance of flexible working arrangements and their impact on modern workplaces. The discussion on the benefits of flexibility, such as increased employee satisfaction, improved work-life balance, and enhanced productivity, resonates well with the evolving needs of today's workforce.
ReplyDeleteThank You Romain hope you got a clear idea on how flexible working impacted employee wellbeing and how it saves cost within the company.
DeleteFlexible working has truly reshaped our approach to work, offering a balance between productivity and personal well-being. It's refreshing to see how it's not just a trend but a necessary shift towards a more inclusive and efficient work culture. A good article on a timely and current topic!
ReplyDeleteThank You Ishani hope you understand the importance of the topic of the article.
Delete