What You Need To Know
As you look for workers, it is important to know that flexible work options may work for your business and also be suitable for potential employees. You may also want to visit this list if a current employee has a request for a workplace accommodation.
| Flexible Work Option |
Description |
| Flexible time |
- Flexible start and end times.
- Works well for employees who are not on front lines or those with independent work routines.
|
| Compressed work week |
- Longer days and shorter work week, e.g., four 10-hour days rather than the regular five days per week with eight-hour days.
- Attractive to individuals who prefer more time off work.
|
| Part-time |
- Various forms, e.g., shorter week, shorter days, a set number of days per month, etc.
- Particularly attractive to some individuals who either provide care for someone, is in school, has self-employment, or has determined that part-time work is sufficient.
|
| Job sharing |
- Two part-time employees share responsibility for one full-time salaried position.
- Appeals to team-oriented people who want a part-time schedule.
|
| Contract work |
- The worker is engaged on an as-needed basis or for a fixed term.
- This may be of interest to any number of people for a variety of reasons.
|
| Leave of absence |
- The worker takes paid or unpaid leave with the guarantee their job will be held upon their return.
- Leaves have wide appeal in various forms, e.g. travel, sabbatical, semi-retirement, etc.
- Any of the above options depending on the interests of the individual.
|
| Phased retirement |
- Applies to those nearing retirement as well as those who have retired but choose to continue working.
|
Why You Need To Know
Having flexible work options may be useful for several reasons:
- Accommodating to meet individual employee needs can be well received by employees.
- It may help in attracting and keeping good workers.
- It may help boost morale in the workplace.
Being flexible may require some upfront planning and/or additional costs. You may also consider piloting flexible workplace programs to determine suitability for your workplace.
What You Need To Do
You need to know if your budget will allow you to implement some of the options before you announce them to employees.
Consult with your employees. Ask what they value and how you might introduce their suggestions to create a flexible workplace.
