Flexi working is a work arrangement that allows employees to choose when to start and end their workday. It was a very attractive benefit pre-pandemic and employees would see organizations providing flexible working as a friendly workplace. Though compensation was a big factor to attract talent work-life balance was also given priority for joining an organization, it made employees feel empowered while balancing work and personal life.
All of it changed when the pandemic hit the globe. Every company whether big or small were forced to accelerate digital transformation, flexible working became the new normal. Employees who never had flexible working opportunities were granted their wish “We never know how wishes are fulfilled.”
Flexible working has great benefits but it also does have few drawbacks.
Let’s talk about the Pros:
It empowers people – the ability to balance professional and personal life brings a great deal of satisfaction to employees. If someone has to run errands, take elderly parents to hospital, a child is not well, or attend child’s parent-teacher meeting. Flexi work takes care of it.
It improvises mental health with less stress on how to cope up with either of lives. This to a great extent also affects the general health of employees.
Flexi working ensures employee retention; on any given day when employees feel the company takes care of their well-being and has a great work-life balance they become loyal to their organization.
It reduces the daily commute time, avoiding getting stuck in traffic or ear piercing traffic snarls are a big relief. Helps to start the day early and meditation or exercise is done peacefully without being in hurry.
An employee can log in from anywhere and the pandemic has taught it wonderfully that at the end of the day only results from matter. It has nothing to do with “when you come to the office and what time you leave”.
Employees get satisfied with the organization and that increases the productivity of the employees, where they work in the comfort of their home.
A culture of trust is built in the organization where managers trust their team that the work will be delivered on time and employee morale will also be high.
And lastly, flexible working helps an organization build a positive image and is a great help in talent attraction.
As the positive points of Flexi working highlight the benefits to the organization and employees it gives, it also has drawbacks.
Some employees tend to misuse the flexibility provided by the organization, creating distrust in managers which further creates issues for other genuine employees to avail themselves of the flexibility.
Few employees do not work efficiently without the supervision of managers.
The flexible working also at times diminishes the fine line between personal & professional space.
At times frequent disruption of internet connection in the middle of an important meeting is nagging.
When some works are dependent on the completion from other teams and the work timing does not match, it’s a problem. Hence, few companies have core working time which allows all the employees to be present in office timing for the certain number of hours for smooth functioning of activities.
Working mothers are increasingly facing problems with a little toddler at home and managing home, work all at the same time causing mental distress.
However, we see more benefits from flexible working which outweigh the drawbacks of it. With a good and empathetic manager, the drawback can surely be handled. This will lead to a happier and positive workforce.
Author – Moumita Ray
Moumita Ray is a human resource leader with rich experience in designing & developing strategies, processes, enhancing capabilities, and building a culture to help businesses achieve their excellence.
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