Employers and employees alike are beginning to acknowledge that the classic 9-5 workdays can be monotonous and at times inconvenient. While workplace structure and consistency does have its benefits, emerging research is showing that there may be better ways for all involved to use their time.
Recent research has shown that people with adaptable work environments tend to have healthier habits, be more productive and efficient when they work. Consider what flexible working could mean for your company, remember that occasional telecommuting, semi-flexible work hours, and alternative schedules are all options that can be moulded to fit both the company’s and the employees’ needs. Here are the top three benefits of adapting to a flexible work schedule.
- Better health
Preferences for going to bed, waking up, exercising and meal times will significantly vary from person to person. Many people do just fine on an office-hours routine, but others may find themselves waking too early to function or getting too tired to focus by the end of the day. Sleeping well, cooking at home, working out and other aspects of health can get pushed aside by schedules that just don’t mesh.
A 2010 review of scientific literature looked at 10 studies related to workers’ control over their hours and health. The review found that people with ability to determine their own schedules had better mental health, healthier blood pressure and better sleep habits than those on fixed or involuntary schedules.
- Increased happiness
It makes sense that when people can choose to do things like take their kids to school, sleep in or help their spouse, that they’ll have better relationships, a better quality of life and more happiness with their employment.
The Sloan Center on Aging and Work, cites the added benefits of flexible work environments, which include less stress and burnouts as well as improved work-life balance and work-family balance. They also found that there is a reduced negative spill over from work to home and from home to work. In a large-scale study of European workers, researchers even found that flexibility was the single most important factor in job satisfaction.
- Company Success
A survey conducted with over 1,500 job seekers, looking for more flexible work options has revealed that companies can reap the benefits by taking this approach. In addition to real estate savings with full-time remote workers, 20% of survey respondents would take a 10% pay cut for flexible work options and 18% would be willing to work more hours.
For businesses owners, the first step to offering flexible schedules should be training management, human resources and staff about the processes as well as benefits. A National Workplace Flexibility Study released in 2014 involved training managers at three different workplaces on flexibility, skills and support. More than half of involved managers reported improvements in team communication and interaction, and 98% reported no negative impacts of flexibility in the workplace.
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