October 27, 2022

How to implement a flexible work schedule in an organization?

After 2019, remote work turned into a standard practice for organizations all over the world. As a consequence of this change in the modern work setting, we saw the rise of a new possibility: offering flexible hours to employees. This initiative requires certain changes for some businesses, but it could offer positive results regarding company performance and employee satisfaction. 

Are you familiar with the flexible work schedule in organizations? At T2W we have an extensive experience in talent management and Human Resources, so we are familiar with this work policy. In this article, we’ll delve into flexible hours at work, the way it works and how to implement it in an organization. 

Flexible working hours 

Implementing a policy of flexible work schedule entails changing the regular working flow of continuous 8 hours. Since employees keep the same number of work hours per week, it won’t create any problem for the organization. This just means that people is no longer required to start the workday at 9 a.m. and finishing at 5 p.m. When a flexible work schedule policy is implemented correctly, the working hours are the only aspect that changes in the organization; the workload and the expected results from employees are exactly the same.   

Is it possible to implement flexible working hours on any organization? 

In general, a flexible schedule allows employees to rearrange their working hours as they see fit, but without neglecting their obligations and responsibilities. Implementing that exact type of changes is not possible for companies in certain fields and for some job positions. However, even in those cases is possible to escape the rigidity of the regular working schedule. 

For example, a flexible work model that is usually applied by some organizations entails working for 10 daily hours 4 days in a week, which in turn offers one extra free day. As a result, employees have 4 working days and 3 free days each week. Of course, these are changes that need to be discussed with employees.  

How to implement a flexible work schedule policy? 

How to implement a flexible work schedule policy? 

1. Adopt a goal-oriented work philosophy 

The first step is redefining some of the company’s priorities. Implementing a flexible schedule policy requires a different approach that focuses more on goals and the value that employees create for the organization regardless of the hours. It’s useful to adopt a goal-oriented work philosophy where employees have to meet certain monthly objectives. That is an effective way to implement flexible working hours without affecting company performance. 

2 . Identify employees’ needs. 

Flexible hours at work is a policy focused on offering benefits for employees. As such, it must start with an analysis of employees’ needs regarding this topic. For that reason, the next step is asking workers if the flexible schedule you plant to implement will actually be helpful for them. You can do that with a survey. The results will help you optimize the policy and create something that can actually fit with people in your organization. 

You might also like: How to increase productivity while working remotely? 

3. Define the flexible work schedule policy 

One you have identified your employee’s needs, the next step is setting the characteristics and limits of your flexible work schedule policy. These are details that will definitely change according to the nature of your organization and the type of responsibilities in each position. The work is different in each job position. You can define this policy by answering a series of simple questions. 

How is this policy going to work for employees working from home? What is going to be their new work dynamics? Likewise, in some cases it’s necessary for some workers to go to the office frequently. How is this policy going to work for people that work at the office? Define carefully what employees can and cannot do in their different roles, according to the nature of their responsibilities. 

4. Check employee performance 

While any flexible work schedule policy requires certain level of trust in employees, you have to make sure this change doesn’t affect company productivity. That’s why you have to check employee performance indicators before implementing this policy. This way, you have a blueprint of the productivity level you need to maintain.  

Then, once you have implemented the policy, pay attention to performance data. As with any new policy implemented for the first time in an organization, it could cause small changes in the indicators. These performance changes shouldn’t be too big or extend for too long. Measuring results is always necessary after implanting a new program or policy.  

5. Implement and announce the new policy 

All employees have to be aware of the benefits and limits this new flexible work schedule policy will create. For that reason, it’s important giving talks to help employees understanding the extent and possibilities of the policy. In addition, it’s a good idea to offer training and workshops to teach employees how to keep productivity in this new working style. 

Since you need to communicate these changes, you have to make clear for everyone that performance standards and work volume have not changed at all. Additionally, employees need to know their performance will be monitored constantly. That ensures transparency between the organization and its employees.  

These are the main aspects you need to keep in mind before implementing a flexible work schedule. This initiative is slowly becoming the new standard among organizations. Understanding it helps you adapt to the continuous changes in the work world.  

At Talent2Win, we strive to align your company’s business objectives with the best Talent Acquisition strategies available. If you want to learn more about the services we offer, do not hesitate to contact us.  

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