Introduction
We only have one life – are we working to live or living to work?
Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, a new perspective has altered in our work life, and it has served as a wake-up call for many of us, particularly in our working environment, where 9-5 workdays no longer suffice.
Employers are accustomed to being able to determine when and where people work, but we have recently learned that a great deal of work can be done at odd hours between remote school courses, from home offices, or even from the comfort of one’s bed.
After nearly two years of experiencing and experimenting with working remotely during the pandemic, we’ve realized that for many of us, remote work allows us to be more productive without a physical workplace while allowing employees to have more space and time to live a balanced life.
Employees and management are noticing the difference and value of being able to work flexibly more than ever before.
Where It All Started
In the early 1900s, Henry Ford tried an unusual tactic for attracting workers to his automobile factories: he offered them an eight-hour workday. Ford’s offer of a 9-to-5 job in a vehicle factory may not sound all that appealing now, but his reasoning was highly inventive at the time. Fast forward 120 years, and working 9 to 5 has become the standard. However, just because a 9-to-5 job is a common practice does not guarantee efficiency, productivity, or employee satisfaction.
The Workplace is Changing
Technology Advancement
Laptops, mobile phones, and tablets are right at our fingertips, along with apps to keep us connected and present at all times. The technologies we have now are different from when Henry Ford started the 8-hour work.
Discover why better tech tools are vital for deskless workers.
More and More Millennials and Gen-Zs Are Keen to Working Flexible
Millennials and Gen-Z workers have witnessed their parents being laid off or passed over for promotions, and they want to avoid those same fates. They are seeking flexibility from employers and control over their lives which means being able to work from anywhere and at any time.
Why Work Flexibility is Becoming More Popular
1. Enables employees to produce better results
When you base your employees’ performance on time, they will spend more time gazing at the clock than being productive. As a result, the work’s quality drops significantly. A flexible work schedule allows employees to work when and where they are most effective. Furthermore, they are less inclined to take days off from work, which increases company productivity.
Discover 6 ways to boost your employee’s productivity and engagement.
2. Enhances employees’ attentiveness and focus
If you’re someone who works well under the pressure of a deadline, then you understand how your most productive workdays aren’t necessarily your longest ones. Human attention span has been proven to diminish over time, which is why we are encouraged to take breaks in between at work or even use these productivity hacks.
When you have a flexible work schedule, you are more likely to work when you are at your best. You’ll have an incentive to manage your time efficiently because you’ll have more time to focus on important tasks or projects.
Read to learn more about productivity techniques you can use in your working routine.
3. Builds trust
Some managers struggle to adjust to the new management style, which requires trusting relationships because they are used to seeing when their employees arrive at work, watching what they do all day, and knowing when people leave for home, but the reality is quite the opposite.
Employees who have control over their responsibilities may be more motivated to complete their tasks because they are less time-pressed, more creatively fulfilled, and well-trusted by management.
4. Attracts a wider pool of talent
When it comes to picking a place to work, millennials value flexibility. It’s not difficult to connect the dots: providing flexible schedule alternatives is an excellent recruitment technique for attracting the top workers of this generation. Offering flexible schedules also gives you and your recruiters more options and creates a larger pool of talent from which to hire fresh people. Today’s work market is extremely competitive, which is why being able to offer benefits such as flexible hours can be critical in attracting top talent.
5. Promotes Work-Life Balance
We advocate for work-life balance, and flexibility is an easy approach to achieve it. People realized that there is more to life than a job after the pandemic. Setting aside more quality time for family, friends, and personal hobbies.
A flexible work schedule allows your employees to return to work feeling refreshed and ready for work. It also reduces the likelihood of burnout and boosts employee satisfaction and morale.
Conclusion
Flexibility allows these exhausted professionals to focus on the most important things in their lives their well-being and the health of their families so that they may bring their best to work.
It may take some time for culture to catch up to current realities. However, the benefits of workplace flexibility are a win-win situation for everyone. Employers want their employees to do their best work around their schedules. Your employees will adore you, and the company will profit from the overall high morale, which has been linked to higher production.
