In the past decade, the workplace has undergone significant changes, with many organizations now embracing flexible work schedules to empower and maximize employee productivity. Not all employees are productive at night or in the early morning hours. Top companies recognize this vital fact and offer their teams flexible work schedules whereby employees can choose where, how, and when to work.
However, it is necessary that, as an employer, you first figure out what benefits you will enjoy by adopting flexible work schedules. If the disadvantages further exceed the advantages, then you should reconsider. Nevertheless, if you have more to gain than to lose from offering flexible work schedules, consider implementing this as soon as possible.
We have investigated some of the most common advantages and disadvantages of having flexible work schedules. This article will provide valuable insights crucial for your decision-making process, opening your eyes to new perspectives.
But first,
Most people think flexible work schedules involve people working from home only. Employers can give employees the choice to work from anywhere. Employees can also work flexible shifts. They can work any time of the day or shifts that regularly change.
This trend is prevalent and much loved by millennials and Gen Zs, who want more freedom and the ability to thrive in environments that aren’t strict and too demanding. A certain level of autonomy may be an integral motivator for them to succeed in their roles. One feature that most employers use nowadays to attract these generations of workers is offering them flexible work schedules that allow them to pursue personal projects and have more personal time while still working full-time, part-time, or under contracts.
So, let's assess the pros and cons of such an engagement to both the employer and employee.
Today's workers aspire to excel in their professional endeavors, pursue their passions and projects, and maintain a healthy work-life balance by regularly dedicating quality time to their families, friends, and loved ones. Having a 9-5 job that requires them to commute daily may not be ideal for them to enjoy their social life too. However, if they can secure a job that offers flexible work arrangements, they will probably balance work and personal life more efficiently.
A daily commute to the office comes with lost time, traffic, fuel, and transport costs. Most employees would love to do away with this entirely from their routine. One brilliant way they can achieve this is by securing flexible jobs to avoid commuting to work at all or regularly.
They can put into a more productive activity the time they spend in transit. The money they could pay for transportation can also be channeled into much better and more productive activities, such as savings or investments.
Flexibility gives employees lots of autonomy to choose when, how, and where to work from. It enables employees to organize themselves, work under minimal supervision, and finish the job. This is crucial for employees as it cultivates self-sufficiency, the ability to work with minimal supervision, and the potential to become independent decision-makers.
Autonomy also teaches employees self-responsibility, which is critical to long-term professional development.
Not all employees are the same regarding what time suits their productivity levels. Some are night owls, while others are early morning birds. Employers recognize the significance of this factor, allowing employees to select the most suitable time for their work. Employees can decide when to work at their best, complete more jobs, and meet their KPIs efficiently.
To maximize productivity, employers should prioritize maintaining consistently high morale levels among their employees. One brilliant way to achieve this would be to introduce flexible work schedules. Flexibility fosters happiness, contentment, and satisfaction among employees, leading to a better work-life balance and a greater willingness to maintain and excel in their roles.
Typical 9-5 jobs are well-known for mentally and financially draining employees. These jobs can run employees to the ground and strain their pockets, especially since they must turn up daily, irrespective of any circumstances. Continuously repeating the same routine can exhaust employees to the extent that they become weary of the strict patterns, potentially leading to dissatisfaction with the routine and their daily tasks.
Employers can offer work arrangements that keep them from rigid shifts, which can reduce absenteeism. Since workers can start and end their shifts from anywhere and at whichever time of the day, they will probably turn up for work more consistently. Reduced absenteeism allows employers to maintain smooth operations, meet deadlines, and achieve business objectives promptly.
Employers always want to retain their employees, especially the top-performing employees who are integral to the business's success. One brilliant strategy that will assure them of this is offering employees flexible work schedules as part of their employment benefits package, enticing and convincing workers to stay with their employer longer. Companies with colossal employee turnovers usually need help to meet their deadlines and objectives and always end up making losses and losing clients.
Employees are the lifeline of many businesses since they give the company direction and the vigor to compete efficiently. It should always be the prerogative of all employers to ensure they retain their employees for as long as possible, even if it means offering them flexible work arrangements.
Employers offering flexible working arrangements are always seen as excellent companies that are conscious of their employees’ work-life balance. When applying for jobs, most prospective employees look at the benefits package, not just the competitive salaries. Today, many individuals seek jobs that are not excessively demanding. At the same time, employers recognize that employees have personal lives that cannot be put on hold due to work commitments. By providing flexible work arrangements, your company will attract job applicants who perceive it as an excellent environment to work and grow professionally and personally.
Some teams may find it challenging to work in the office without the presence of their colleagues them. It may also be tough to get all the staff on team meetings efficiently, and it may feel like a confusing process and a disjointed team without proper planning. Employees may also feel disconnected from their colleagues, affecting communication and collaboration, ultimately breaking down the group's bonds.
Given that the workplace is no longer conducive to their professional development and workplace relationships, these employees may require additional motivation and morale to excel in their roles and contribute beyond expectations to the company.
Working from home or having flexible working hours isn’t something that many people are familiar with and can respect. It can be challenging for neighbors and even family members to grasp working from home and the need for complete dedication to work without divided attention, especially when employees are on flexible work arrangements. Some employees find it hard to communicate this to their loved ones or even neighbors so they can allow them time, space, and respect to work.
Not all employees will have superior self-control and self-management to distinguish between work and home responsibilities. Employees with flexible work arrangements should train to distinguish work hours from other commitments. Employees need to carve out time for work and adhere to that to avoid divided attention.
Employees unable to do this may end up experiencing low productivity levels and constantly needing help to meet their deadlines and KPIs.
Working efficiently in flexible arrangements requires a massive level of self-management, self-responsibility, and time management to succeed. Not all employees will have these desirable traits, and most may take time to develop. Employers need to be more efficient in fulfilling their obligations and constantly being behind deadlines and short on the KPIs.
Your clients may suffer when some employees who should be helping them out aren’t on shift because of the flexibility. Clients expect to be serviced five days a week or even all week long, and if some of your staff aren’t around, your clients may feel underwhelmed by your service's quality. Flexible work arrangements have their own set of challenges, especially one that is integral to the success and growth of your business, which relies on clients to bring in more revenue and profits.
Some employees may feel you are mistreating them by not offering flexible work arrangements. Such feelings of discontent may lead to a demoralized workforce who are always grumbling about the working conditions, and each time this happens, productivity takes a blow. Thus, employers need help to please all their employees while ensuring the business is operational and meeting its obligations efficiently without compromise.
It is upon you as the business owner to identify how best to implement efficient, flexible work arrangements for your employees. Of course, it comes with its cons, but through research and experimentation, you can bypass all the obstacles and make this endeavor successful for you and your employees. Doing this will endear you to your employees while growing your employer brand among prospective employees who admire work flexibility.
Hiremango has been in the business for long enough to realize the need for top talent in growing companies like yours. We endeavor to comb thoroughly through our catalog of impressive job applicants and make sure we get you the most suitable candidates who can help your company grow. If this is something you desire, contact us on our website so that we can know your needs and how best to help you.
Some employees who thrive when working alongside their colleagues may suffer hugely due to the lack of camaraderie and the overall buzz of working as part of a team from a common location during standard shift timings. As a result, these employees need more motivation and morale, negatively impacting their overall performance.
Some benefits of flexible work schedules, such as improved work-life balance, enhanced autonomy, and reduced commute times, can significantly improve employees' morale and enable them to be more productive while still being comfortable while working. Employers who offer such arrangements stand a chance of having a content workforce who are always happy to turn up for work and give their employers their best.
While flexible work arrangements may benefit the employer and the employees, some disadvantages also creep into the conversation. These disadvantages include employee isolation, reduced communication and coordination, inability to manage employees, and inability to maintain company culture among employees working in such schedules. It is, therefore, important for employers to identify these problems early on and deal with them systematically.
