Flexible work schedules come in three basic varieties: flexible hours, compressed workweeks, and telecommuting. What are the differences and which one might be a good fit for your workplace?
Types of Flexible Work Schedules: Flexible Working Hours
Implementing flexible working hours is as simple as the name implies: it involves allowing the opportunity to begin and end each workday at an approved time outside the standard working hours while still completing the minimum required workday. There are several common variations on this option:
- Setting new non-standard start and end hours for each day for participants
- Allowing participants to start and end each day within a specific time window, typically a one-hour window, instead of at an exact time
- Starting and ending each work day according to the specific day, week, or cycle of time
“The degree of flexibility that you might put in there is really up to your organization and your organizational needs and what would work best across the organization. One of the things about flexible work arrangements is that you want to be as consistent and fair and business-based as you possibly can.” Dayna Fellows explained in a recent CER webinar. “You’re going to want to choose an arrangement that matches the nature of the work that you do.”
Types of Flexible Work Schedules: Compressed Work Schedules
Compressed work schedules, also known as alternate work schedules, involve the opportunity to work longer hours on certain days in order to complete the work in fewer days and have “earned time off” on other days. Variations include:
- Employees work 9 longer days on, then have 1 day off within a 2-week pay period
- Employees work 4 longer days on, then have 1 day off each week
- Employees work 8 days at 9 hours/day, then 1 day at 8 hours, then have 1 day off each 2-week pay period
Alternatively, any of the above variations may be modified so that the time off is a half day instead of a full day. Regardless of what schedule is chosen, companies often set the schedule so that participating employees’ have differing “off” days. This creates a situation where someone is always working during all standard work hours and some employees are available outside of standard hours as well. These arrangements can be beneficial to customers because employees are available for more hours during the day.
Types of Flexible Work Schedules: Telecommuting
Telecommuting or telework is the name for the opportunity to complete regular job responsibilities on certain days (or even full-time) from an approved alternate work site. Some employers have implemented regular teleworking schedules in which employees telework the same scheduled day(s) each pay period. Alternatively, some employers allow telecommuting, but the schedule is created on an ad hoc basis, dependent upon the work being done during a given period. Yet another alternative some employers use is to allow teleworking if needed, but only with documented medical need or during times of emergency.
The above information is excerpted from the webinar titled “Flexible Scheduling: How to Craft a Program That Works for You and Your Employees.” To register for a future webinar, visit CER webinars.
As founder and president of WorkLife Performance, Inc., Dayna Fellows offers more than 30 years of experience in professional development, performance management, and work/life programs and policies, with particular focus on managing telework and virtual teams. She is a national spokesperson on the challenges and rewards of a flexible workplace.