Have you ever felt like a circus performer juggling work-related responsibilities with personal obligations? You’re not alone!
It’s no surprise that workplace arrangements have long been a source of stress and employee dissatisfaction. The traditional nine-to-five schedule can feel rigid and inflexible, leaving little room for work-life balance or personal responsibilities.
But don’t lose hope—a new trend has emerged over the past few years, and it’s called hybrid flexibility!
The Hybrid Flexibility
This approach allows employees to work from home or on-site, giving them greater control over their work schedules and allowing for a better work-life balance.
However, there’s a catch—it’s mainly reserved for desk workers, leaving others out of the loop. But don’t worry, we’re calling for a more holistic approach to equitable flexibility—that benefits all workers.
We want to shake things up and consider every employee’s different needs and circumstances in life. It’s time to level the playing field and give everyone a chance for a desirable work situation.
Evaluating the Current Market
According to Gartner’s recent research, 82 percent of companies plan to permit remote work for at least some time, and 47 percent plan to allow full-time remote positions.¹
It’s a significant increase compared to how it was before the pandemic. But this progress doesn’t include frontline workers in healthcare and the manufacturing industry. It’s clear that we need a more inclusive approach that benefits all workers regardless of their industry or role by making work-life balance a priority for everyone.
Benefits of Hybrid Flexibility
That said, hybrid flexibility is one of the solutions! Hybrid flexibility isn’t just a trendy buzzword—It’s a game-changer for how we work.
Employees get the best of both worlds, and they can work from home in their cozy sweatpants or come into the office to catch up with their colleagues—depending on what suits them best.
Giving employees the option to work where they want can have impressive benefits. Here are just a few:
1. Increased Productivity
Employees working in remote setups are often more productive. When working from home, workers can create a comfortable environment suited to their needs, with fewer interruptions from coworkers.
They can even take advantage of working during their most productive hours, whether early in the morning or late at night!
2. Reduced Absenteeism
The option to work from home allows workers to avoid the hassle and stress of commuting, resulting in fewer sick days and absences.
With less exposure to germs and illnesses, there’s also less chance of contagious diseases spreading in the workplace.
It’s a win-win situation for both employees and employers.
3. Better Work-Life Balance
One of the most significant benefits of hybrid flexibility is having a better work-life balance. The freedom to work from home or in the office reduces the time and stress of commuting.
After all, no one wants to spend most of their weekdays commuting. Eliminating the need for a long commute or rigid schedules gives employees more time to spend with their families or engage in hobbies and activities they enjoy.
4. Environmental Impact
Fewer commuters mean fewer cars on the road—which means less air pollution and a reduced carbon footprint. A hybrid setup positively impacts the environment and can help organizations demonstrate their commitment to sustainability.
The Need for Equitable Flexibility
But flexibility needs to be available to all workers, not just those in desk jobs. While hybrid flexibility is a step in the right direction, there’s still more that can be done. Many workers are still expected to work long hours and be available at all times, which can lead to burnout and decreased productivity.
We need to accommodate more people and offer a system that considers everyone holistically.
1. Control Over Work Schedules
Why not let workers have more control over their schedules?
This means offering flexible work hours, the ability to work from home, and paid time off.
Just look at Chick-fil-A, which introduced a three-day workweek! This kind of arrangement is possible not just for office workers but frontliners too.²
After all, everyone deserves to enjoy their life and spend time with people and things they love.
2. Employee Well-Being
Putting workers’ welfare as a top priority makes them more likely to stay with the organization.
Why not maximize employee benefits by increasing paid leaves or introducing financial and mental health counseling? The more they’re cared for, the more employees appreciate their employers and put more effort into their work.
3. Stability in Work Schedules
It means providing predictability in work schedules, avoiding last-minute changes, and limiting mandatory overtime.
Employees are still humans, and they’re vulnerable to burnout. Having a set time for work creates a boundary between their work and life, leading to a healthier harmony between the two.
Education for Process Improvement and Workforce Management
Are you ready to take the next step in creating a more flexible and equitable workplace?
It starts with implementing these changes effectively, and the first thing you can do is through education.
1. Empower your managers and employees.
Equipping your workforce with the knowledge and tools they need to implement flexible work arrangements effectively is crucial. By investing in education, we can help them understand the benefits of these arrangements and how to create a work environment that supports them.
2. Evaluation and feedback are essential.
We need to continuously monitor and assess the effectiveness of our flexible work arrangements and adjust as needed. This allows us to ensure that all employees can achieve a healthy work-life balance and maximize productivity.
3. Keep training resources available.
To ensure that flexible work arrangements are implemented effectively, provide easy access to training resources that allows your team to work independently.
PROMOTE EQUITABLE WORK FLEXIBILITY WITH PORTFOLIO CREATIVE
Join us in creating a more dynamic and equitable workplace! We recognize the benefits of hybrid flexibility, but we also know it’s just one piece of the puzzle.
Portfolio Creative understands the need to advocate for a comprehensive approach that considers every employee’s well-being—and all this starts with you.
Contact us today so you can create a productive, engaged, and satisfied workforce that will help your organization thrive!
References:
- Arlington, Va. “Gartner Survey Reveals 82% of Company Leaders Plan to Allow Employees to Work Remotely Some of the Time” Gartner, Jul. 14, 2020, https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2020-07-14-gartner-survey-reveals-82-percent-of-company-leaders-plan-to-allow-employees-to-work-remotely-some-of-the-time
- Murphy, Bill, Jr. “Chick-fil-a Just Introduced a 3-day Workweek, and People Think It’s the Best Idea Ever” Inc, Oct. 29, 2022, https://www.inc.com/bill-murphy-jr/chick-fil-a-just-introduced-a-3-day-work-week-people-think-its-best-idea-ever.html
