The new way of working: Flexible working arrangements

Choosing the right flexible working arrangement can make a huge difference in a manager’s work. Post-Pandemic, leaders, and employees are looking for ways to make flexible working arrangements for better work-life balance and high worker productivity. Whether you’re looking for an arrangement that gives you more control over your work schedule, allows you to work from home occasionally, or want greater flexibility in your job duties, this blog has everything you need to know. By reading through the different flexible working arrangements mentioned, you’ll be able to find the one that’s perfect for you. So why wait? Start exploring the possibilities today!

What is flexible working?

Flexible working has been a growing trend in recent years. It has benefits beyond conventional working structures. It gives the employees flexibility and autonomy over their work and life. Flexible working makes the working environment positive and promotes healthy competitive work culture. Flexible working allows choosing a working condition that best suits the managers and the company without compromising overall productivity and output.

What are flexible working arrangements?

A flexible working arrangement is a legal arrangement between a manager and a company to change the standard working arrangements to accommodate employees’ commitments out of work. Flexible working arrangements generally cater to the hours, location, and pattern of work of an employee. 

Benefits of teams working in flexible working arrangements

Increased productivity

Flexible working arrangements increase the group’s overall productivity; by cutting out long and unnecessary traveling, employees can use that time to generate quality work. Flexible working hours also allow team members to complete the given task in time and use the time left to engage in other developmental activities.

Improves employee retention

When team members are satisfied and engaged in their jobs, and their demands are heard, the chances of them leaving the company are very low. By retaining the same team for an extended period, managers save time and resources from rehiring and retraining a new employee and, in return, create a sense of trust between team members and managers. 

Improves work culture

When managers provide flexible working arrangements, it increases job satisfaction and helps restore the work-life balance in team members. When the team is happy and content, it will reflect the overall attitude towards work. Well-adapted teams create a positive and competitive work culture.

Diverse teams

Diverse teams are proven to be more productive, creative, and flexible working arrangements, allowing employees of all backgrounds to be included in the group and to cooperate effectively. By providing flexible work arrangements, managers bring in diverse employees with the talent to produce and create more business for the company. 

Types of flexible working arrangements

Regarding flexible working, there are various options available to managers. The employer offers these options to make the managers’ lives easier and increase employee engagement and job satisfaction. Flexible working arrangements are based on these 3 types of working culture:

1) Part-time work is a flexible arrangement wherein managers work fewer hours than full-time workers. Part-time work is more flexible and can be done based on time availability.

2) Temporary Work or Temporary employment means an employment situation wherein the work is limited to a certain period, based on the company’s requirement.

3) Freelance workers work for themselves and do projects for different companies on a contractual basis rather than being an employee of a company.

9 Examples of flexible working arrangements

Hybrid Work

Hybrid work is a blend of flexible working arrangements that allow employees to work from the office, at home, and on the go based on their preferences. This arrangement enables the managers to work from wherever they are most productive and allows them to move between different locations depending on the task they need to get done. As a result, hybrid work increases the efficiency and productivity of managers by giving them a preferred workplace with fewer distractions and more control over their time. But Hybrid work does have its disadvantages, like employee burnout, creates proximity bias and makes it hard to collaborate and keep track of the employees.

Telecommuting

Telecommuting is another way of flexible working arrangement wherein managers don’t need to go to the office regularly; all their work and communication are done via the internet and telephone. They can work from anywhere but have to be near the geographical location of the office. Managers are expected to join the office on days of big meetings, team events, or any other event requiring their presence. Telecommuting is a great way to work outside the office and keep your job while still having flexibility. Telecommuting also has drawbacks for employees; they may feel unguided, leading to a loss of productivity and creativity.

Remote work

Remote work has been growing in popularity over the years as it offers many benefits for managers. In a remote setup, managers work from home or any location other than the central office operated by the employer. To work as a remote worker, you need an internet connection and a device, and workers can work from anywhere in the world. In addition, remote work helps managers get extra time to take up additional co-curricular activities or developmental programs for personal and professional advancement. Remote work has its own challenges for employees. For example, it can make keeping track of time difficult and lead to poor time management habits, stress, and exhaustion.

If your team is struggling with remote working arrangement you can focus on these 5 areas.

Condensed workweeks

Employees nowadays are increasingly looking for flexible working hours to achieve work-life balance. Condensed Workweeks were mainly designed to achieve work-life balance; managers tend to complete their weekly working hours in 4 days rather than 5 days. It is done by starting work early and working till late, ending the desired working hours so they can take an extra day off. For example, A compressed work schedule allows an employee to perform a traditional 35-40 hour workweek in less than five workdays. A full-time employee could work four 10-hour days instead of five 8-hours a day to complete the hours. The extra day out motivates managers to work harder and complete tasks efficiently, but overworking can also lead to exhaustion and poor mental and physical well-being.

Flextime

Flextime is a flexible work arrangement that allows employees to adjust their working hours to suit their needs better. In many cases, it allows balancing work and personal life without sacrificing your career. Companies that enable Flexible timings don’t follow the conventional working hours and give managers the option to choose the timing of their work based on their schedule and flexibility. In addition, flextime working arrangement helps build employee trust in the company. Flextime has its demerits, too, like it can increase procrastination among employees and create hindrance in work-life balance.

Shift work

Shift Work allows employees to work in rotations. Different groups of employees do the same work in rotation; some might do the day, evening, or night shifts. Shift work is a good option for managers who want flexible working hours. It allows them to choose their shifts based on their convenience and also allows them to swap shifts with co-workers based on their commitments, unlike other work arrangements wherein a single employee does all the work. Shift work can be great if you adapt quickly and are comfortable with the new working hours. However, it is crucial to research what type of flexible arrangement will suit your needs before making any decisions because if you choose the wrong shift, it can lead to an abnormal lifestyle, low productivity because of the odd hours, and boredom.

Job sharing

In a Job Sharing arrangement, two or more managers work together and share the workload equally. So in this arrangement, two or more part-time managers work as one full-time. Managers take shifts to complete the projects. In some cases, they work together, or they work independently. This flexible working arrangement has its fair share of pros and cons so take the decision wisely. Some pros of job sharing are that exchanges of skills and knowledge between the job sharers and job sharers can meet the challenges and demands of a challenging role without sacrificing life outside work. And some cons of job sharing can be finding a compatible partner to work with, and employees’ pay and benefits can be affected by this arrangement.

Phased retirement

Phased retirement is a great way to enjoy leisure time while maintaining financial security and job flexibility. It can be done in stages – starting with a partial retirement and then gradually phasing out work over time. There are many benefits to opting for phased retirement, including increased leisure time and even the option to switch careers or take on new responsibilities later on down the line. However, a significant drawback of phased retirement is reduced salary, and employees should keep this in mind while opting for phased retirement.

Sabbatical leaves

Sabbatical leaves are an extended period away from work. Managers are still employed and paid during the sabbatical. Therefore, managers can use this time to advance as professionals, take rest and develop new skills. Sabbatical leaves are an essential form of flexible working arrangement that allows employees to change their work schedule and leave at short notice without losing benefits. Sabbatical leaves help employees to deal with burnout and improve work-life balance, but the employees also have to face challenges when they join work back, like they have to play catch up with new processes and learn to use new tools and office rules.

Conclusion

Flexible working arrangements can be a great way to balance work and personal life. You can control your work hours, location, and schedule by choosing a flexible working arrangement. Additionally, flexible working arrangements can help reduce stress and create a more positive working environment. Make sure to read our blog to learn more about the different flexible working arrangements and choose the best one for you!