The Need For Employers To Operate A Flexible Workplace

It is a proven fact that a flexible workplace increases employees’ productivity and improves work culture. When employers are the only ones allowed to make decisions without seeking the consent of employees it often discourages them and also makes them feel uneasy at the place of work. A flexible workplace has been proven to offer tremendous benefits which include reduced stress, increased creativity, improved productivity, high job satisfaction, etc. Employers need to remain flexible and be open to finding workable solutions that work best for their employees or else risk losing them.

One thing employers need to note is this, as long as the work assigned to employees is effectively carried out, they shouldn’t be concerned about the method used in carrying out the work as long as they see positive results they require. During the outbreak of covid-19, it gave rise to a flexible workplace. A lot of employers had to mandate their staff to resort to working from home. Ever since this paradigm shift in the workplace, according to research, 73% of employees cherished the remote way of working and insisted that even after the covid is over employers should stick to the new workplace structure.

As stated in fortune’s article, 86% of employees want to work from home at least two days a week. Work from home has been proven to be very beneficial to employees giving them the advantage of high productivity, better autonomy, flexibility, work-life balance, healthier lifestyles, more savings, and lesser carbon footprint. The covid period was an eye-opener for some employees to notice that flexibility in the workplace is very effective and produces results. Employers who are not sensitive to their employee’s needs/demands often have to bear some consequences.

Employers have to realize that the workplace has indeed transformed, especially in this 21st century that technology has evolved, making it easy for employees to work from anywhere. Some employers are hell-bent on ensuring that their employees must be present in the office which they believe produces better results and they also get to experience the company’s work culture. This kind of employer often breeds employees who later become recalcitrant and rebellious towards their rules. What they fail to understand is that not all employers find the workplace really productive, some work effectively from home. An understandable employer realizes that how and when their employees work best will vary depending on their circumstances.

The most important thing is that the work gets done effectively and not necessarily that it must be done in a prescribed timeframe and environment. Any reasonable employer will always want to consider the needs of the employees with flexible work arrangements that support improved work-life balance. Few people have this misconception that a flexible workplace is mostly all about allowing employees to work remotely. Not at all. Flexible arrangements in the workplace could be;

• Unlimited paid time off
• Shifting arrival and departure time
• Flexible work shifts
• Shared employment options
• Leave
• Sabbaticals, etc

With more and more employees now expecting flexible working arrangements, it is no longer seen as an option. Flexible working is now an essential business practice. For flexible arrangements to be properly executed in the workplace with positive results, an employer must come up with options that meet the needs of the employees. They should brainstorm on this process with their members, to identify each employee’s pain points and conducive hours. Then finally make arrangements that best suit everyone’s needs.

Final Thoughts

Employers must come to realize that a flexible work structure has become more accepted as a legitimate option for office employees. Times have changed. For employees not to risk losing their team members, they must adopt a flexible work structure.