Being Flexible in workplace is one of the most important requirements for having a productive workforce. Work-life balance, independence, a relaxed work environment, and a positive work environment are frequently linked to flexibility.
But how does flexibility affect productivity at work? Finding approaches to granting employees the freedom to decide how and where they engage in work involves flexibility. The majority of employers are frequently undecided about whether to offer flexibility and whether doing so will actually increase productivity. As a result, many employers are hesitant to alter the working environment or the way they do things for fear that their employees will stop caring about their jobs. However, when implemented properly, flexibility can eliminate problems like burnout and lead to a more productive workforce.
Increasing Employee Engagement and Motivation to Create a Productive Workforce
The employers continue to struggle with the issue of workplace flexibility. Numerous questions are raised, including whether flexibility and productivity can coexist and whether it affects both employee productivity and innovation. The fact that flexibility has a significant impact on how a company attracts, hires, and retains top talent makes it a crucial topic for discussion.
According to studies, most job seekers choose where they will work based on factors related to flexibility. These include work-life balance and welcoming workplace culture. This is especially true for millennials and given that they make up most of the workforce today, it makes sense for employers to start viewing flexibility favourably.
Because of all the red tape and a monotonous work environment, a strict cubicle workplace can have an impact on morale and creativity, which can lead to a less creative and productive workforce. While workers may put up with such a culture because they need a job, such a business will always experience high employee turnover, especially among the best candidates.
A flexible work environment ensures that employees collaborate with their managers to achieve organisational goals rather than doing things to please a particular person or to avoid being reprimanded if they don’t perform as expected.
The fact that it doesn’t matter when, where, or how an employee completes their work is one of the realities that the majority of employers have yet to accept. Flexibility has two sides, though, and a situation like this will only work if the concerned employees are performing their duties and meeting deadlines and goals.
Benefits of Flexible Workplaces
Flexibility has many advantages for both employees and organisations, but most employers are unaware of these advantages or how they affect workforce productivity.
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Enhances Originality
A company’s employees are more likely to feel satisfied, motivated, and enthusiastic about their work when their needs for flexibility are met. Additionally, it strengthens their bonds with their managers and employers, which enables them to contribute more significantly to the organisation. Employee satisfaction and reduced stress put them in a better position to be creative, which is essential for an organisation to succeed. Some workers, for example, will be more creative if they have a choice in how, where, and when they work, like in freelancing and telecommuting.
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Increased Customer Loyalty and Service
Employees who work in flexible environments typically put in more hours than those who work the standard nine to five. Since most customers are also working at their own jobs during those hours, they are typically unavailable to contact the company during those times.
There should always be someone available to respond to customer questions outside of the 9 to 5 shift in a flexible work environment, which increases customer loyalty and benefits both the employer and employees.
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Enhances the company’s brand image
Most job seekers prefer to look for employment with businesses that have put policies in place to ensure work flexibility. Whether it be commuting or flexible hours, various parameters are considered when it comes to hiring. Flexible working hours will increase your company’s ability to recruit from a larger talent pool. It will also help you keep your best employees. Therefore, flexibility enhances the company’s brand.
One of the reasons why most people, particularly millennials, always want to work for companies like Google is flexibility, which is insane. Flexibility can mean the difference between filling a position with the right person and spending months advertising for it.
Additionally, your current workers desire to feel trusted and valued, and one way to accomplish this is by fostering a flexible workplace. It strengthens their commitment to the organization.
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Reduces Stress at Work
Workplace stress is one of the unspoken problems affecting today’s workforce, and it can be brought on by a variety of external and internal factors. If employees have control over their time, meeting their KPIs will be simple for them.
Therefore, organisations must consider flexibility when trying to enhance workplace culture. If there is flexibility in the workplace, teamwork, productivity, and innovation can all rise. As an employer, you can take steps to ensure that workers uphold their end of the bargain despite a flexible work environment.
Flexibility’s Impact on Employee Productivity
Flexitime, also known as flexible working hours, was first implemented in Germany in 1967. When Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm, an aerospace company, became the first to use the idea. In an effort to reduce the daily “clocking in/off” lines that occurred. As a result of everyone finishing their work at the same time, the company introduced the idea of flexible working hours. Today, as more and more businesses introduce flexibility at work, most employees have given up on the fad mentality and flexibility has become more of an expectation. Many studies have supported the belief held by the majority of workers that flexibility increased productivity. Flexibility allows workers to give their all at work without sacrificing their personal lives.
Flexibility, employee engagement, and morale
It has been demonstrated that employee flexibility significantly impacts a company’s performance. It also increases profitability over time improves morale, productivity, and job satisfaction. When given the option to work outside the traditional nine to five schedule, employees are less likely to experience stress.
Flexibility boosts productivity, which lowers stress and improves an employee’s mental and physical stability. It allows them to work harder because they want to help the company achieve its objectives. While it is true that flexibility suits some employees, it is also important to keep in mind that some workers thrive in a 9 to 5 setting. When introducing a flexible work environment, the company should take this into account.
Getting Employees to Work During Their Most Productive Times
The idea of “I can’t wait for 5 pm” is probably familiar to everyone working in an office. After 3 o’clock, your productivity starts to decline, and all you can do is count down the minutes to leave. Let’s just say that when half of a workforce spends two or three hours every day, in non-productive behaviour. It is because the system forces them to, productivity suffers. It also doesn’t help a company in any way.
This won’t happen if workers are allowed the flexibility to work around their schedules. Instead, they concentrate on producing high-quality work by emphasizing the results rather than the number of hours put in. Everyone has their own productive time, which most employers either overlook or fail to understand. There are workers who will be more productive in the morning but useless by the afternoon. And also the opposite of the condition is also true. As a result, allowing people to work during their peak productivity periods by implementing flexible hours will benefit all.
