Pros And Cons of a Flexible Work Schedule for a Company
Recent studies have suggested that flexible work schedules are extremely important for happier and more productive employees and a more successful company as a whole. Many of us have gone through those afternoons when we felt completely unproductive but still stayed at our desks until 5 p.m because of the schedule.
Many of us want our mornings to be free to spend time with family. But a typical work schedule does not give us the option of meeting those demands.
Essentially, we all have been in cases where our restrictive work schedule was a hindrance to our office productivity and outside our goals. A flexible work schedule will allow you to work at the highest level of productivity and give you the flexibility you need to build an ideal work-life balance.
There are advantages and disadvantages to flexible schedules, just as there are advantages and disadvantages to a nine-to-five work. Flexible schedules are certainly becoming more common nowadays. We’ve compiled a list of some pros and cons of introducing flexible work hours at your workplace.
The Pros of Flexible Schedule:
It Can Be A Money Saver Arrangement:
Since working at home is part of the flexible work arrangement, employers are often able to save money on ancillary expenses. This is because there is a need for fewer office space for home staff, plus less furniture and personal needs at the workplace. Flexible work creates a better economy and saves the capital of the company too.
Different Employees are Productive at Different Times:
Every employee is different in his/her own ways. Some of us like the morning time to be the most hours whereas others may find the after-lunch time to be more productive.
Not all of the workers will be productive at the same time. Flexibility helps them to become better workers — they will get more done during the hours they choose, and during periods they are unproductive, they won’t feel burnt out of sitting at their desks. Additionally, many workers are going to want to work earlier. Others are going to want to work later. This gives an employer the opportunity to have a presence in their community outside of normal working hours.
Employees like own Control:
Customers like power over their schedules— it helps them to feel fully in charge of their work and personal lives and makes them feel like they are respected by their organization. Employees can be more efficient, even when they work fewer hours. So, employees should have their say in choosing the time they need to spend to deliver the best results.
Flexibility Encourages Diversity:
Not every household is equally organized. Special personal interests are almost always going to take precedence overwork. Usually, more flexibility can be achieved by providing flexible work because more potential candidates believe they can adapt an open position to the demands of modern life.
Flexibility Ensures Better Recruiting:
It has been seen that flexible schedules improve the efficiency and overall morale of employees. Essentially, as a selling point for recruiting better talent, you can use the advantages of a flexible schedule. Instead of incorporating their personal needs into their work schedule, many employees enjoy being able to incorporate work into their personal schedules. An employer opens up the opportunity for hiring new employees by the introduction of flexible work.
To Know More: How can Managers increase Employees Productivity at the Workplace
The Cons of Flexible Schedule:
It Limits Internal Communication:
Flexible work also allows workers to come and go all day long. It generates other situations in which the mobile or email mark is beginning to take place. Calling someone or going down the hall to chat in their office is not always feasible. It is important to handle the interaction breakdowns that are bound to occur so that successful teamwork can take place.
Scheduling Meetings Becomes Tough:
If everyone has different schedules, it can be difficult to find out the availability of everyone— for example, you may not be able to have nine a.m. Meetings because your team’s three members will not arrive until 10 a.m. This becomes much tougher if your team is working around the world, or if you need to arrange meetings with clients working on the conventional nine-to-five.
It Can Give RiseTo Conflicts:
Many employers may only allow flexible work for parents and caregivers, which may result in a complaint of discrimination and potential litigation. Some workers could struggle to cope if they have the same flexible work request that their co-workers have. To prevent these disputes as often as possible, good judgment is absolutely necessary, particularly if some employees are accepted and others are not.
Working Remotely Can Hamper Efficiency:
If you’re working remotely you may suddenly find that you’re getting very little done with that right to take breaks. It often takes more focus and discipline to work remotely than to work in an office. You will need to set up and stick to your own rigid structure, or you may risk slipping your output when you take more Netflix breaks or spend precious productivity hours running errands and doing household stuff or in the kitchen.
Bottom line:
Flexibility in office timings certainly has some major benefits for the employees and their productivity. But it needs a good management team to implement the changes. It can be disastrous for a company if the employees are not able to coordinate among themselves or it seems impossible for the company to schedule internal meetings. Internal communication is very important and it should not be hampered for mere employee satisfaction.
How do you manage flexible timing in your offices? Do tell us in the comments.
