How Flexibility Increases Employee Productivity and Satisfaction

Demand for flexible working has grown more rapidly in recent years than ever since the start of the pandemic. In today's dynamic and competitive business environment, companies are constantly looking for ways to increase employee productivity, foster innovation, and attract top talent. One of the most effective strategies for achieving these goals is to encourage flexibility in your workforce.

“We find that as a company becomes more comfortable with allowing and managing flexibility, leaders tend to move to a boundaryless approach, whereby employees work anywhere, anytime. Typically companies initiate this to enhance productivity and enable their businesses to operate efficiently around the clock while saving money.” (Ellen Ernst Kossek At el., 2021).

Edhec Business School, 2021, Flexibility : The Future Of Work 

Employee flexibility refers to the ability of employees to adjust their work schedules, locations, and methods to meet their individual needs and preferences. This can include a variety of arrangements, such as:

• Telecommuting: Working from home or other locations outside of the traditional office setting.
• Flextime: Setting their own work hours within certain parameters.
• Compressed workweek: Completing a full week's work in fewer than five days.
• Job sharing: Sharing a single job with one or more other employees.
• On-demand work: Working on a project-by-project basis, with hours determined by the needs of the employer.
• Virtual work: Working entirely remotely, with no physical presence in an office.

Within the framework of personal flexibility, the following can be listed: Task Flexibility, Psychological/Mental flexibility, quantitative flexibility, working time flexibility, Wage flexibility (Piwowar-Sulej, 2016).

Successfully implementing employee flexibility requires a strategic and well-structured approach. Here are some key considerations:

• Establish clear policies and guidelines: Develop clear policies that outline the types of flexible work arrangements available, eligibility criteria, and expectations for employee conduct.
• Communicate effectively: Clearly communicate the flexible work policy to all employees, ensuring everyone understands the options available and the process for requesting and utilizing flexible arrangements.
• Provide training and support: Offer training and support to both managers and employees to ensure effective implementation of flexible work arrangements. This may include training on managing remote teams, communicating effectively across different work locations, and using technology to facilitate collaboration.
• Evaluate and adapt: Regularly evaluate the effectiveness of the flexible work policy and make adjustments as needed based on employee feedback and organizational goals.
• Be open to feedback: Businesses should be open to feedback from employees about their flexible work arrangements. This can help to improve the policy and make it more effective.
• Trust your employees: Businesses should trust their employees to use flexible work arrangements responsibly. This means giving employees the freedom to manage their own time and work

There are several ways that flexibility can increase employee productivity. Here are a few of the most important:

• Improved work-life balance: When employees have more control over their work schedule, they are better able to balance their work and personal life. This can lead to reduced stress, improved mental health, and increased energy levels, all of which can boost productivity.
• Increased employee engagement: Employees who feel like they have more control over their work are more likely to be engaged in their work. This can lead to increased motivation, innovation, and creativity.
• Reduced absenteeism: Employees who are able to work from home or have flexible hours are less likely to take sick days. This can save businesses money on sick leave and other benefits.
• Greater talent attraction and retention: Flexible work arrangements are a valuable perk that can attract and retain top talent. In a recent survey, 80% of workers said that they would choose a job with flexible work hours over one that did not.
• Reduced overhead costs: Businesses that allow employees to telecommute can save money on office space and other overhead costs.
• Improved organizational agility and adaptability: By embracing flexibility, organizations can adapt more quickly to changing market conditions and respond more effectively to unforeseen challenges.
• Greater flexibility to care for personal needs: Flexible work arrangements can allow employees to more easily handle personal commitments, such as caring for sick children or aging parents.

 

References

Caroline Castrillon, 2022, Why Flexible Work Boosts Employee Productivity [Online], Available from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinecastrillon/2022/03/23/why-flexible-work-boosts-employee-productivity/?sh=467d316c6e4b, Accessed 21 November 2023.

Edhec Business School, 2021, Flexibility : The Future Of Work [Online], Available from: https://www.forbesindia.com/article/edhec/flexibility-the-future-of-work/65567/1, Accessed 23 November 2023.

Ellen Ernst Kossek et al., 2021, The Future of Flexibility at Work [Online], Available from: https://hbr.org/2021/09/the-future-of-flexibility-at-work, Accessed 22 November 2023.

Ellen Ernst Kossek and Rebecca Thompson, 2015, Workplace Flexibility: Integrating Employer and Employee Perspectives to Close the Research–Practice Implementation Gap [Online], Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282993812_Workplace_Flexibility_Integrating_Employer_and_Employee_Perspectives_to_Close_the_Research-Practice_Implementation_Gap, Accessed 22 November 2023.

Katarzyna Piwowar-Sulej, 2020, Human Resources Development as an element of Sustainable HRM - with the focus on production engineers [Online], Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344213755_Human_Resources_Development_as_an_element_of_Sustainable_HRM_-_with_the_focus_on_production_engineers, Accessed 21 November 2023.