As we discussed in a previous blog, working remote has many benefits to the employer and employee.
However, there are many employees who cannot or don’t want to work from their home or another location.
You can still provide a perk for employees by shifting time schedules to make it more convenient for them.
This will require some of you to really analyze your views on schedules.
It is easy to just post a blanket rule that everyone must be in their desks 8:00 am and stay put until 5:00 pm (just don’t stand near the door at 5:01 pm as you will get flattened.)
For some people, that will be fine.
For many (especially the younger workers), being tied down to rigid schedules like that will be a great negative and the first company that will give them time flexibility will get their skills.
There versions of the flexibility:
- Working some days remote and some days in the office
- Time shift for circadian clock – some can come in early others come in later
- Allow team members to work from another remote location (e.g., from a family member’s home during a crisis)
- Schedule gaps – allow team members to go for medical appointments, taking or picking up children from school, working remote for home repairs, etc.
- Shortened week – working 4 days of 10 hours each or working 3 days of 12 hours each and a 1/2 day from home
If you really want to make heads spin, how about reducing the work week to 32 hours with the clear expectation of the same output is required? Yes, it is doable but that is a discussion for another blog post!
Generally, employees want to be successful. If you, their employer is willing to be flexible, the employees will deliver. I guarantee it.