How To Incorporate A Flexible Work Schedule Without Losing Productivity

The pandemic has drastically changed the way businesses operate, and most of the workforce adjusted to working from home. Some businesses have started to return to the office. Still, many companies have opted to incorporate flexible work schedules into their planning because they now understand the benefits of allowing employees to work from their home offices. Flexible schedules promote work-life balance, which is vital to the success of both employers and employees. It is now more of an expectation from employees that their company provides a hybrid scheduling option since everyone has had a taste of working from home.

Are you struggling with how to manage or incorporate a flexible work schedule without sacrificing productivity? Here are some ways to help your company build a solid flexible plan:

Focus On Work Results And Deadlines

Every employee is different, which means that they may be more productive at different times of the day. Some employees are early birds who get the most done between 7 -11 am, while others do their best work between 4-6 pm. Employers should focus on the quality of employees’ work results rather than the time of day they are working. This thought process will create a more successful outcome because employees will work harder with the freedom that a flexible work schedule provides.

Set Core Hours To Maintain Productivity

When creating a flexible work schedule, it is crucial to set core hours to maintain productivity for employees. Core hours are times when everyone commits to working. Core hours throughout the day will ensure that employees can communicate and collaborate while still providing the flexibility to sustain a comfortable work-life balance. If you would like to establish core hours in your organization, determine which hours would work best. Be sure to avoid the temptation to offer too many core hours per day to ensure that employees have enough flexibility.

Conduct Frequent One-On-One Meetings

Flexible schedules require the leadership team to work extra hard to stay connected to the team. Managers should continue to conduct team meetings, both virtually and in-person; however, supervisors should also host consistent one-on-one sessions to give employees a chance to communicate any questions or issues that may arise. Schedule recurring individual meetings with staff and prepare discussion points to stay more organized. During the meeting, be sure to stay fully present in the conversation, recognize the employees’ wins, discuss any challenges and professional development. You can also implement virtual office hours for various departments in the organization (e.g., finance department, operations department) so employees can get support on the administrative side as well.

Invest In Better Tools To Train And Track

In addition to flexible schedules, employers should prepare their employees for success by investing in their work tools and technology. Employers can invest in programs that onboard, train, and track engagement and performance and make these tools available for employees to view on their own. This will make employees feel that the company is continuing to invest in their careers by offering them training opportunities and ways to track their progress — even in the virtual space. Platforms like Harvest and Lattice are great solutions. These programs will hold your employees accountable for their productivity, ensure employee satisfaction, and increase employee retention.

Clarify Goals And Objectives

Communication is key! Company goals and objectives must be acutely established and communicated in a flexible workforce to ensure the understanding of tasks and timeliness to employees. It will also generate support for your employees to make sure they are producing their best work. Remember to regularly review goals and adjust as needed to make sure the company is staying on track.

Sources:
https://www.15five.com/blog/one-on-one-meeting-checklist/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/2021/08/13/how-to-implement-a-flexible-work-policy-without-losing-productivity/?sh=27d248f02d76
https://bloomfire.com/blog/invest-in-employee-training/