What do you think? Which is more effective for a business and more fulfilling for the employee?
Employee A: Works at a job where the primary focus is clock time.
Employee B: Works at a job where he or she is in charge of their schedule, and is also held accountable for deliverables and for the responsibilities of the position.
Obviously the second of the two is better for the business and for the employee. This is why I am an advocate for alternative work schedules, as long as those schedules meet organizational needs.
It’s a potentially perfect match. When an employee’s preferred work arrangements and schedule can also meet his or her employer’s business needs, such flexible alternatives can make a significant difference to the employer, as well.
Basically, depending on the job and what the position entails, employees are usually more productive when they feel comfortable and happy in their work environments.
So when you find this balance, employees are apt to feel more empowered. Hardly anyone likes to be micro-managed. And when employees are in charge of their schedules and their output, they can derive a tremendous sense of accomplishment from that.
Are you ready for this? Do you want your employees to look forward to their work? Do you want those then-happier employees to give you their best in terms of higher productivity levels?
Here are a few things to think about first:
- Examine your business goals and staffing needs. For instance, employers want to avoid developing an alternative work schedule simply based on one employee’s request.
- Review your current work environment and compare it to the functions of the entire group of employees. Are there ways to be flexible, given those two considerations?
- Analyze what measurements you have for employee positions. For instance, are employee tasks deadline-driven or just productivity driven?
- Determine what results you want employees to achieve.
- Consider what tools they need to achieve those results.
- Figure out any restrictions. For instance, does someone need to be at the phone answering incoming calls by 8 a.m.?
After thinking it through, you may find that given today’s technological advances and tools, an alternative work schedule will work for you and your employees. Many employers today are finding ways to make alternative work schedules meet both: their business needs and their employees’ work/life balance needs.
Results are also showing that many of these employers are enjoying higher productivity and lower employee turnover rates. This makes everybody happier!