Effective Ideas to Get Maximum Benefits From Flexible Working

There are many people who believe that they understand everything about flexible working but this very topic is still a subject to much perplexity. Whether it’s working from home as freelancer or for one day to focus on projects without mundane office distractions, adaptable working is now becoming a current global hot issue. Many employers are believing that proffering staffs and employees the opportunity to manage their own space and time to personalize their working habits can make them happier and better in their everyday lives making them much more productive as usual in the work field which is quite a symbiotic process for both parties in which the benefit will be for both if it’s managed and executed well.

What is Flexible Working?

Flexible working refers to any work schedule that is outside and independent of a usual working pattern which means that the working hours can depend on changes and variations instead of being undiversified and fixed. It means the employee will not be limited to a fixed or unvarying working schedules and norms as they can work even from their home or workplace adjusting the schedules according to their suitability.

Common Examples of Flexible Working

Flexitime

This process requires an employee to be present at work during a specified period, but also lets them to arrange their working hours to suit themselves.

Staggered hours

This process make the employees to start and finish work at different varying times. Employees will also be allowed to take time off with substitute or take career breaks.

Job Sharing

Job sharing is another example of flexible working in which a job is shared between two or more people and they may wish to work alternate days, half weeks, or alternate weeks. That means one person can work in the morning and one in the afternoon.

Compressed hours

In this process employees work the same specific hours for few days.

Annual hours

Employees stay in agreement that they will work a specified given number of hours during the entire year, but the pattern of work will vary from week to week.

Getting Maximum Benefits from Flexible Working

1. Communication is must

Any work or project depends on transparent communication to make your employees listen to you carefully to fully understand your perceptive. If you work under your boss, keep the communication level clear and high to get their guidelines to work with much ease.

2. Management style should be updated

Adopting a new workplace culture means a change in management style, so it becomes essential to keep yourself or your employees very much aware and informed about the new work culture and norms rather leaving yourself or them to work with uncertainty. Communication with your boss, HR, employees on a regular basis is best.

3. Investment in tech

Remote working leads to staff and employees feeling cut off from their colleagues without any idea of work updates. Hence it’s essential to have the technology in place to invest in it to provide flexible working patterns and guidelines. To avoid delays, misunderstandings associated with email, you can use quick communication tools like Whatsapp, Instant Messenger, Google Hangouts and Skype.

4. Work from home any day

Working from home enhances employee’s sleep quality and patterns and increases productivity, job satisfaction. Not only Friday but for entire week staff individuals can work from home. If there are different people out on different days the space occupied in the office can be used for some additional office settings such as quiet rooms, stress relieving exercising room and informal meeting areas which can boost productivity.

Recommended: Is Working From Home Right For You?

5. Without desk but at home

There are many companies adopting the idea of hot-desking but the vital fact is desks that are no longer specifically assigned. Improvising office “neighbourhoods” in an open environment gives a sense of both physical and emotional relieving, belonging that produces spontaneous brainstorming, productivity and improves communication.

6. Productive design and modernization

Effective office design and modernization generates staff comfort and productivity. Modern and effective office designs will help to work effective and quick with mental and emotional relief.

7. Trust factor

Trust factor is most important element of flexible working that is working with mutual trust. Managers, bosses, HRs need to allow employees and staffs to take responsibility and need to trust them for project deadlines. Setting boundaries early on and explaining expectations on timing and quality of work will be good for avoiding misunderstandings and confusions.