How Is Flextime Implemented?
With flextime, the fixed time of arrival and departure are replaced by a working day that is composed of two different types of time: core time and flexible time.
- Core time is the number of hours during which all employees must be present.
- Flexible time is the designated working period within which an employee may choose his or her start and end times.
For example, core time may be from 9:30 to 3:30. Employees may choose to arrive between 7:30 and 9:30 and may leave between 3:30 and 5:30, so long as they are present a minimum of eight hours. Variations in the use of flextime include:
Flextime by the week. Flexible hours within the span of the week. Carryover of debit or credit hours is allowed within this period. This enables an employee to cope with fluctuating workload without working overtime and better suiting his own convenience.
Flextime by the month. The carry forward of debit and credit hours from week to week is a further extension. There can be violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act under this plan. If you have nonexempt staff on flextime, they work over 40 hours in one week and you fail to pay them overtime, you are violating the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Total flex. The greatest flexibility is reached when core time is allowed off, subject to a maximum number of hours per month. Normally, such core time off is only allowed with the agreement of the appropriate supervisor or department head whose responsibility it is to ensure that work continues and output does not suffer.
Lunch breaks. Within any of these systems, lunch breaks can be either fixed or converted into flexible hours.
The farther flexible hours are extended, as from the day to the month, the more reliance is placed upon having a staff with a responsible attitude toward work and a management with confidence and trust in the staff.
Advantages --for management and employees
For management:
Reduction in short-term absences
Quicker starts; fewer morning conversations
Increased service to public if company is open longer hours
Increased productivity during extended hours due to quiet; less interruption
Tardiness eliminated by definition
Workers become more job-oriented rather than time-oriented since time is within their control
Improvement in cross-training and cooperation because of necessity of "filling in" during hours other workers are not present
Supervisory skills improve because of enforced planning for absences
High turnover may be reduced
Morale may be improved
For employees:
- Schedules can be adjusted to take advantage of personal peak working hours
- "Rush hour rage" reduced; travel time may be reduced
- Increased participation in family, community and social activities
- Educational opportunities increase as more class times become available
- Carpooling facilitated because better coordination is possible
Disadvantages. Flextime has disadvantages, including additional recordkeeping of hours worked; supervisors not available at all times; overhead costs may increase due to extended hours; and it may not applicable to all departments which may lead to employee-management problems.
Reprinted with permission. © CCH
With flextime, the fixed time of arrival and departure are replaced by a working day that is composed of two different types of time: core time and flexible time.
How is flextime implemented?
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