Are you an employer with staff tired of working the same old 9-to-5 schedule? Many workers today are demanding a more flexible schedule, especially those with families.
It has been found that employee morale is better when they have at least one day a week to work from home or have an option to work part-time. Unfortunately, businesses fear that workplace productivity and profitability may suffer if they make a schedule switch for their staff. But doing so could have a huge impact on your business. Here are a few schedule alternatives that could be beneficial for both you and your employees.
Core Hours. This option allows companies to choose the set days and times when all employees are expected to be at work. For example, you may require all staff to be at work between 10 am to 2 pm, Monday through Thursday. During those times, all workers are required to be present in the office. Outside of those hours, employees have the option to work the hours that are best for their schedules. This option is best for companies with busy workloads and requires teams to work together.
Flextime. This schedule allows staff to start their day whenever they choose as long as it doesn’t interfere with client needs or deadlines. Flextime is a great option as schedules can vary on each staff member’s needs. This is ideal for staff if they have commitments outside of work.
Telecommuting. This is a very popular option, especially since the beginning of COVID. Telecommuting allows staff to work regularly in the comfort of their own home. This schedule allows people to be more productive and is ideal for those who work on projects independently.
Compressed Workweek. This type of schedule is where an employee works the traditional 35-40 hour workweek, however, they work less days than the conventional number of workdays. For example, a full-time employee may choose to work 4 days a week for 10 hours per day instead of the normal 8-hour shift 5 days a week.
Job Sharing. This is a unique schedule option as two part-time employees come together to complete the work of one person. The two staff will share responsibilities and then split the total work hours.
If your company isn’t ready to make a major scheduling shift, consider implementing the change on a trial basis. After seeing how your clients and staff respond, you can decide if a scheduling change is right for your business.
