A Flexible Work Schedule Works for Me!

Flexible work schedules are becoming hot topics in the workforce today, especially in light of high gas prices and energy costs. Offering employees the option of:

• a compressed work week,
• alternative work schedule,
• flex-time/part-time scheduling or
• working from a remote location

can help not only employees, but also employers, save money and energy and increase productivity. See my feature articles this month on “Gas Prices and Retention” as well as “Are You Flexible” for more information on the possible savings of flexible work schedules.

Why Is Being Flexible with Your Employees a Good Investment?

Good question! I can speak from my own experience to answer it since I myself am a remote employee, which, as you read above, is one flexible work schedule option an employer can choose to provide for their employees.

In my experience, being a remote employee is a good investment for me and my employer for several reasons:

1. We both save money! I save money on gas and my employer saves money on providing me office space.
2. We both save time! I save time driving to work and back each day, as well as getting “ready” for work, while my employer saves time having to wait on me to get “ready” and get to work!
3. We both are more productive! I am more productive because I do not have the distractions of working in a cube when I work from home. My employer is more productive, then, because I get a lot more work done in this arrangement, which allows my contributions to the success of the business to occur a lot sooner, thereby increasing the bottom line in a much timelier manner than expected.
4. We both are happier! I am much happier and less stressed out working from home than when I am at the office. This happiness also contributes to the increase in my productivity. My employer, then, is happier because, “If Cara ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!”
5. We both are more loyal! I am more loyal to my company being a remote employee. It will be very hard for another company to “steal me away” because they would have to offer me the same arrangement and more money and influence than my current company. My employer is more loyal to me because they can see my loyalty to them in my work and increased productivity.

So, W.W.S.H.R.D.?

Now that you have heard how a flexible work schedule option has helped me and my employer save money and energy and increase productivity, what are you going to do to take advantage of one of these great options for your employees so you can benefit from the same results? Remember our mantra, “W.W.S.H.R.D.?” (What Would Strategic HR Do?). They use flexible work schedule options with their employees to attract and retain top talent, so if this is one of your goals, too, consider offering one or all of these options to your employees. It can be a great win-win solution!

Flexible work schedules are becoming hot topics in the workforce today, especially in light of high gas prices and energy costs.