6 reasons why you should establish flexible working in your company

Let’s begin by defining what one expects from flexible work. Flexible working makes collaborators benefit from flexibility, while they work. Teleworking, flexible hours, annual or monthly scheduling for working conditions.

In 2019, internet connection and a computer in almost working order, are often the only conditions required to work. Not necessarily being in the same space, collaborators can communicate, send each other documents, carry out a visual conference etc…without suffering from Gertrude’s 120 decibels, who spends her day screaming on the phone, right in the middle of the open space.  

The aim of flexible working is of course favoring the professional/personal life balance of collaborators. Your boss is quite skeptical about establishing such conditions. However, flexible working also has major benefits for the company. Here are 6 reasons for which you, the Office Manager should work and establish flexible working conditions in your company. 

1. More productive collaborators

Let’s talk about teleworking. You’re not forced to let your collaborators work from home, whenever they want to, right from the beginning. Start with 2 days per month as a test, then go further depending on the results. But you should know that it is plausible that by establishing remote work, your collaborators are going to be more productive. 

An employee who does remote work, is an employee who doesn’t waste 1H30 because he has a hard time getting to work, due to the transport strikes. This precious time which has been gained, can be used to work or sleep. In both cases, the result is going to be the same: the collaborator is more productive. 

Moreover, at times we think that a telecommuter doesn’t do much except twiddling his thumbs on the couch. But often it’s the opposite: the person realizes that he must be impeccable during his teleworking days, the collaborator is even more productive than he is when he is physically present in the company. 

Not to mention untimely interruptions from colleagues, fire drills or the funky breath of the Commercial Director…mishaps which can be avoided when one works from home. 

2. More creative collaborators

Working collaborators who can change working spaces, work from a café or a coworking for example, are collaborators who are more creative. Getting a change of scene and potentially meeting new people, leads to new ideas. In short, it helps collaborators to “think outside the box”. They work in a different way, in a different setting and should be able to resolve the issues, on which they’ve been stuck for a while. 

3. Well-being of your colleagues!

The well-being of employees: a problem (more or less) significant for companies, but mostly for you, Office Manager! Without wanting to state the obvious, it’s obvious that flexible working conditions allow improving the well-being of your collaborators: 

- Stress reduction: no need to run and go pick up the kids at school, when one can leave the office, when one deems fit, no need to take the subway at rush hours etc.…

-More time for oneself: the few hours of transport one saves every month

- A better professional/personal life balance: one handles the boundary between professional and personal life, as we deem fit. 

- A feeling of self-sufficiency: one can feel that the managers trust us, it must be said that this is a true pleasure.  

4. Less absenteeism

Related to the well-being of collaborators: less absenteeism. Happy employees are employees who don’t fall sick often, are less stressed and therefore less exposed to a burnout. In short, less absent. The argument will hit the target with your boss. 

5. Less turnover

With flexible working, your collaborators are happier and have the feeling that one trusts them. In the end of the day, they are more committed (the famous collaborator commitment). The more devoted they are, the longer they’ll stay in the company. 

Moreover, some collaborators have activities outside of work, which take up a lot of time. Like Henry who gives Tango lessons every evening. Letting your collaborators be more flexible while handling their timings as they please, is allowing them to combine work and personal life, to the best. This is the kind of thing which gives the desire to stay in the company, for a few more years. 

6. More attractive in terms of recruitment

To seduce new talents, getting out one’s checkbook isn’t enough: you need to offer more flexible and interesting working conditions. Some candidates mainly look for flexible conditions, when they’re looking for work. Implementing flexible work in your company means stacking all odds on your side, to attract the best talents.