Every major or minor change in the world transforms the world’s ways to some degree. Nowadays, the world observed the lockdowns, isolations, and quarantines. Moreover, these uncertainties affected everything. A person’s lifestyle, way of thinking, and even how one works and does daily chores.
In survey made by Gartner in 2020, 74% of organizations said they planned to move at least 5% of their workforce online.
Most offices give their staff the flexibility of working hours during these days. This flexibility increases the primary turnout of working and helps employees work with peace of mind.
What is flexible working?
The fundamental way to define flexible working is to let the employees work at their suitable time without bounding them with the company’s official working hours. Also, people nowadays like to do everything online. Likewise, collaboration platforms like Chanty help to make it all online effortlessly.
All large and small institutions and organizations prefer online working modes to ease their employees. The online version of working assists both the employee and employer to make their timings flexible. It is fortunate that nowadays, employers allow workers to work remotely.
With the rising reliance on digital platforms, flexibility in work arrangements has become not just a trend but a strategic shift to ensure operational efficiency. Tools like Chanty help streamline communication and teamwork, even for employees working from different locations or time zones.
What is flexible staffing?
Companies use flexible staffing as a strategy to hire temporary workers. A contingent workforce is used by HR departments and other departments to meet changing business and operational challenges and as an alternative to hiring permanent employees.
Contractors, independent freelancers, gig workers, and agency-provided workers are examples of contingent workers who are not on a company’s payroll.
Is flexible working the future?
Remote employment refers to an individual who works anywhere other than the office. Flexible work can also be called remote work.
Flexible working is indeed the future. People all over the world get benefitted from this new way of working. They can pick the times and work independently.
The increased globalization and rising technologies have given this world a new way of operating things. The escalated number of online and remote workers has shown that the world has accepted digital means efficiently.
Similarly, as stated by Bloomberg, the global crises have increased social interaction and have transformed the world widely. Also, it made the pace of life faster and easier.
Flexible work arrangements, combined with advancements in AI and machine learning, now offer businesses new opportunities for greater productivity. Employees are not just completing tasks — they are leveraging cutting-edge technologies to improve performance and decision-making processes.
Many employees select flexible timings and online mediums over fixed timing and physical platforms. On the other hand, it is a bit of a not-so-likable way of working for employers because it gives the employee more autonomy in working than most companies do.
At the same time, a few firms give their employees this facility. These kinds of gestures increase the productivity of work. Also, it helps in settling goodwill relations between employee and employer.
Pros of flexible working
There are a lot of benefits of flexible working for both sides. Apart from the employee, the employer gets many advantages because of flexible workers.
Employees’ perspective
Suppose one assesses flexible working from the eyes of the employee. In that case, the following are the benefits that an employee gets from flexible working:
- Selection of workplace
Employees can choose a workplace on their own. This means that they can work from the comfort of their home, a co-working space, or any place that fits their needs and preferences. With this flexibility, employees can create an environment that enhances their focus and productivity.
- Transportation omission
Flexible work in one’s selected place omits the transportation problems. Commuting can be time-consuming and stressful, so eliminating the need for daily travel helps employees reclaim precious hours, ultimately increasing overall work-life balance.
- Mental health
The suitable timings and selected place give comfort to the employee. Thus, it helps to avoid mental breakdown and insures happiness of an individual. The freedom to choose work hours and location contributes significantly to reducing stress and burnout, fostering a healthier work-life dynamic.
- Selection of timings
Flexible working gives the individual the right to select his timings. The idea of authority increases productivity. This autonomy allows employees to work when they feel most productive, whether they are early risers or night owls, contributing to better job satisfaction and output.
- Availability of alternative jobs
Flexible timings allow the individual to have more than one job at a time. This flexibility allows exploring alternative income options. It can be particularly beneficial for those seeking side gigs or trying to balance multiple passions and responsibilities.
- Increased income
This opportunity for more than one job at a time increases the individual’s monthly income. By being able to work with more than one employer or pursue different projects, employees can boost their financial security without sacrificing quality of work.
- Longterm projects
Employees who have flexible timings work for longer than those with fixed timings. Many flexible workers are able to engage in long-term projects that demand more concentration and dedication, as they aren’t constrained by rigid work hours. This fosters loyalty and stability in their professional lives.
- More attendance
The employees who work flexibly have more days of attendance at work. There is a meager chance of such an employee giving any excuse for being absent from work. The freedom in managing work hours makes employees more committed to their roles, reducing absenteeism and increasing job stability.
- Dedicated employee
Employees who work flexible hours are the ones that are comparatively happier than those who work on fixed timing. This satisfaction translates into greater dedication and a stronger sense of responsibility, ultimately benefiting both employees and employers.
- Modern ways
Acceptance of new ways and abandoning traditional conventional ways grow the firms. The happy employees and modern ways together help the business grow. As organizations embrace flexible working, they position themselves as progressive employers, attracting top talent and enhancing their reputation in competitive markets.
Company’s perspective
- Increased productivity
The comfort of employees increases the prosperity of businesses. The happy and comfortable employees tend to give their best which eventually gives potential outcomes.
- Fewer space occupations
The flexibility of timings results in less or no space in the office. Due to this, the employer can hire multiple clients simultaneously. Thus, the firm’s production can easily double.
- Hybridization
The world has embraced the modern ways of studying, living, and working. All large and small business owners follow hybrid models. To understand hybridization, one must know the meaning of this term.
Hybridization is a process where one follows both ways, i.e., offline and online. Most companies follow a hybrid model to stay in touch with their employees by both means.
- Goodwill with employees
Smart work enables the employees to give their hundred percent and settles the goodwill with their level best. This fosters mutual respect and understanding between employers and employees, which in turn strengthens the overall culture within the organization.
- Multiplication of business
The flexible timings can help the owner multiply their business in manifolds. Consequently, the employer gets even more benefits than the employees. By reducing overhead costs and increasing employee retention, companies can expand rapidly and scale their operations effectively.
Cons of flexible working
No matter what industry your business is a part of, the flexibility of working has a lot of advantages, but it also has some disadvantages. Human error will always be a possibility in everything we do. These are some of the disadvantages of flexible timings:
- Communication problems:
Those who avail flexible working often deal with communication issues. Staff working in an office can communicate when they run into a problem. Still, those who work in flexible timings lack this facility. This can result in slower decision-making and delayed responses, impacting the overall efficiency of the team. However, modern communication tools like Chanty and Slack have helped bridge these gaps, allowing for seamless collaboration even in a flexible environment.
- Lack of environment:
Environment matters a lot. People working from home or any other place lack a healthy office environment. Their work may suffer because they can get easily distracted by other things in their surroundings. The absence of a professional setting might hinder focus, especially if employees do not have a designated workspace at home. Employers can help mitigate this by offering stipends for home office setups or encouraging the use of coworking spaces.
- Less Income:
The income of people who work from home may decrease compared to those who work in an office. While some flexible workers may earn less due to fewer hours or lower-paying gigs, others could potentially earn more by balancing multiple projects. It’s important to note that for many, the overall quality of life improvements outweigh the short-term financial adjustments.
- Procrastination:
People working remotely often procrastinate. To understand this, one must know what procrastination is. Procrastination is a way of avoiding tasks that somehow makes one feel overwhelmed or bored. Instead of working on it, people find it easier to delay it until there’s no time left or past the due time. It affects one’s productivity and makes one suffer from anxiety.
- Increased pressure:
It increases anxiety and pressure when he feels that he cannot work properly. Employees working from home may experience added pressure to prove their productivity without the traditional office structure. Managers can ease this pressure by providing consistent feedback and recognizing achievements, which boosts morale and reduces stress.
- Can bore the individual:
The worldly affairs and workload together can make the individual bored. Boredom can cloud one’s mind and impair one’s ability to work. Employers can prevent this by introducing new tasks, offering professional development opportunities, or fostering social interactions through virtual team-building activities.
- Insufficient work-life balance:
Flexible working blooms at many places. Although, sometimes, it affects one’s life so badly. In this list, personal life gets affected the most. Individuals working virtually or at flexible timings are primarily unable to maintain a proper balance between their personal and professional lives.
This disturbance affects productivity and sustainability in both areas of his life. Too much burden of work can tarnish the personal life, and a disturbed personal life can eventually affect the working skills.
Wrap Up!
All in all, the fast pace of the world signifies that those who will not modernize them will stay behind. Thus, one of the most significant things for all employers is never to lose contact with the flow of the world.
If due, for any reason, the owners of businesses, whether small or large, would not be able to keep up, they would be left behind.
Let’s say the company owners remain lenient with their employees, embrace flexible timing, and grow with the times. In that case, they can quickly achieve success.
As the saying goes, those who plan never fail. To plan for a better future, one must begin today.
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