It was well over 20 years ago that I did my graduate research on the emergence of the home office. While I am admittedly aging myself, it does give me pause to reflect upon the fact that flexible work arrangements are here to stay. They have become a widespread and accepted approach to work and while such arrangements may not suit every employee or every business, they do have a substantive contribution to make to our world of work. Notwithstanding, many workplace leaders remain uncomfortable with the idea.
The decision to incorporate flexible work arrangements is a business decision and like any business decision, various factors must be considered. Quite simply, the primary question is, are the benefits worth it?
A great deal of research has been published since the days of my graduate work many years ago. Here are a few of the findings that are relevant when considering whether or not a flexible work arrangements can contribute to your organization:
- Talent Attraction: Millennials (employees born between 1980 – 2000) will soon outnumber every other generation in the workplace. This is a generation that has grown up with technology and has a natural comfort level in using the technology that enables flexibility.In addition, millennials typically have different expectations about work and seek work experiences where flexibility exists. A recent Harvard Business Review article identified flexible hours and work from home options as highly valued benefits by job seekers, indicating that of job seekers (88% and 80% respectively) would consider these benefits when choosing a job.
Having said that, we also know from research conducted by Catalyst that employees of all ages, with and without children, value flexibility and that both men and women are equally likely to use flex options at some point throughout their careers.
- Talent Retention: Flexible work arrangements can provide options to employees that enable them to remain with their current employer. A recent report from the Society of Human Resources Management states that 55% of employees identified the flexibility to balance work and life as a very important part of their job satisfaction and a further 42% indicated that flexibility was a primary reason why they were staying with their current employer.
- Productivity: The idea that flexibility reduces productivity is one that has been debated. However, this is substantial research that reports that many employees on flexible arrangements experience increased well-being and a greater control over work. This in turn, has positively impacted productivity. Research prepared by the Future of Work Institute refers to several employers who have observed improved productivity, increased collaboration among teams and individuals who are geographically distributed and a greater responsiveness to customer requirements.
Does this research mean that flexible work arrangements are for every business? No. However, it does mean that businesses should not be too quick to dismiss the benefits that could be available to them. Thoughtful and informed consideration about how the benefits of flexible work arrangements may, or may not, outweigh the risks and contribute to the business’ strategy is necessary in serving the best interests of the business.
