Over 2020, the number of people working from home rose significantly due to the COVID19 pandemic. And in 2021, over 90% of people say that they want to work from home for some of the week while many are looking for a more flexible work schedule in general. Being able to choose where to work was once considered a flexible work schedule. However, with remote work now becoming much more commonplace, choosing when, and sometimes where to work constitutes flexible working. With 80% of employees saying that a flexible job would be likely to boost their loyalty to a company, there are many reasons to consider making the switch to flexible work. Here are some tips to help you make the move.
Consider Temporary Flexible Workers:
Apps like Shiftsmart let employers find temporary, flexible workers based on the current needs of the business. For many businesses that are struggling to find employees right now after the pandemic, such as the hospitality industry, this can be an ideal option. They will pair you with experienced and qualified employees who will be able to work shifts that you are struggling to fully staff, allowing you to save money by avoiding taking on more employees that aren’t required full-time.
Ask Employees What They Want:
While making the shift to flexible working might involve bringing in some new flexible, temporary workers, it also means finding out what flexibility means to your employees. Of course, flexibility does not always equate to working from home since this might not always be possible in some customer-facing industries. However, there are several options to consider and it’s worth speaking with your employees to find out what flexibility means to them and what their ideas are for making their jobs more flexible.
Focus on Productivity:
Flexible businesses tend to place more focus on productivity levels rather than the hours worked. Businesses that have switched to a more flexible model of doing things will often find that productivity rises when employees do not have to work a certain number of hours in the day but are tasked with getting certain things done. This means that the success of an employee is based on their output rather than the number of hours that they are clocked in.
Offer Flextime:
Flextime is an ideal way to allow your employees to easily fit their work around their personal lives, especially if you employ people who are parents who might be trying to fit school or daycare for their kids around their work. Flextime is typically a system where employees are given a certain number of hours and tasks to complete in the week, and they can choose when they start and stop working depending on what works best for them on any given day, as long as they hit the required number of hours. 60% of workers with this arrangement in place say that it makes them more productive and engaged when working.
There are several ways to make the switch to becoming a more flexible workforce, with tons of benefits for your company and your employees.
