More and more employees are reaping the benefits of flexible work environments. In 2016, 43 percent of American employees reported they worked remotely at least some of the time they spent doing their job. There are numerous components of flexible work environments being implemented in today’s job market. These options are not typically available in entry level jobs obtained right after college, but rather require a few years of experience within a company and their availability varies based on the industry and role. A video production freelancer has much more wiggle room with their schedule than an investment banker, for example. In other companies, once you have shown you are a productive employee in an office setting the following flex-work arrangements may be offered to you at some point in your career:
If utilized correctly these options can have a number of other benefits for employees and companies. Balancing Work and Personal Matters Flexible work hours can take a lot of stress away from employees who have young children or care for older relatives. According to a report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 60 percent of households have both parents working and more than half of people caring for elderly relatives also work full-time jobs. By having more freedom in choosing their schedule and work location, employees are able to attend to their obligations outside of work in a timely matter. Little or No Commute Being able to work from home can save an employee a surplus of time and money. The average U.S. commute is about 26.4 minutes one way. The nationwide average gas price is upwards of $2.23 per gallon. Assuming a car averages 25 miles per gallon, an employee can save upwards of $700 annually on gas from not commuting to work on top of the money saved from the lack of wear and tear on their vehicle. Less time spent on the road can also alleviate unnecessary stress associated with rush hour traffic or congestion on public transportation. Remote workers can also allocate the time they would have spent commuting to performing more tasks per day. Eco-friendly Contributions Fewer commuters means fewer cars on the road, which creates a more sustainable natural environment. Xerox has more than 8,000 employees performing numerous functions remotely. To date, Xerox employees who work from home reportedly avoided driving an estimated 99 million miles, preventing more than 43,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions and saving 4.9 million gallons of fuel. Increased Company Growth By promoting flexible work hours, companies are no longer limited to hiring candidates that only live within commuting distance of their offices. Hiring managers can look at a candidate’s skills and qualifications without having to take their current residence into consideration. With this expansion of the talent pool, companies can find and select candidates that can most effectively carry out their global mission and vision. Higher Level of Productivity According to research done by Stanford professor Nicholas Bloom, working from home increases overall productivity and job satisfaction. Bloom found that telecommuters completed 13.5 percent more calls, performed 10 percent more work per day, and left the company at half the rate of people who worked in an office. Companies saved an estimated $1,900 per employee working from home for nine months. This increase in productivity can be attributed to fewer distractions that come from busy office environments such as talkative colleagues or constant background noise. Furthermore, a Bentley University study reported that 77 percent of millennials say flexible work hours would make them more productive at work. An additional 89 percent of this technology-savvy generation reported that they regularly check their work issued email inbox after hours, meaning a large portion of today’s workforce already tends to bring tasks home with them after their dictated office hours have concluded. A Feeling of Independence
Many young people in the workforce are attracted to flexible arrangements because they believe choosing their own schedule and work location will give them more freedom and independence. Workers transitioning into a career prefer the opportunity to take a break when they feel tired, overwhelmed, or have a personal conflict, then resume their tasks at a time that is optimal for them. Some employees prefer to begin their workday early, while others may be night owls for example. Furthermore, it has been proven that ‘cubicle farms’ that are common in many offices destroy employee morale and performance by eliminating personalization of a constrictive workspace. The trust shown by managers who offer flexible work hours empowers employees and can reduce turnover, as shown in a Stanford University research study. Flexible work hours and environments have numerous advantages for employees and managers. Offering opportunities for staff members to create their own schedules, work remotely, or break up their work week, can give companies a leg up on the competition for candidates and lead to more satisfaction and higher employee morale.
0 Comments
|
AuthorInformation on the latest professional development trends and advice, plugs for Marist College Center for Career Services events and initiatives, and stories from your Marist peers. Content is produced by Marist students for Marist students. Categories |