While employees love flexible work schedules, employers can see many benefits, too. By allowing your employees to work a flexible schedule, you can lower your businesss carbon footprint, improving your reputation within your industry and among the general public. Employers offer employee benefits to attract and retain top talent, as well as improve employee productivity and engagement. Each employees chosen working hours are consistent every week; for example, an employee may choose to always work from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. Defined contribution plans, on the other hand, allow employees to contribute a set amount of money to their retirement account each month. Since job stress contributes to. In other cases, it may mean asking employees to give you their availability for each week and then creating a schedule around those parameters. Since flexible work schedules benefit both employers and employees, it makes sense that 57% of employers have already committed to a flexible work schedule to stay competitive. which promotes the potential mutual employee-employer benefits of work-life balance policies and practices (Department for Business Innovation & Skills (BIS), 2011). The FMLA applies to employers with 50 or more employees for at least 20 weeks in the current or preceding year. 457 plans are available to state and local government employees and employees of certain charitable organizations. When they can plan their time in a way that aligns with their needs, employees are more likely to feel less stressed and burnt out, which leads to greater productivity, Rosenstein said. When employees are working remotely, they can choose any shift and cover 24/7 service facilities for your clients. Providing options can extend your hours of operation which is especially important for departments such as customer service or technical support. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. To qualify for disability insurance, employees must be unable to work due to an injury or illness. For example, one companys flextime policy might allow employees to choose their start and end times each day, whereas another might allow them to choose between working five eight-hour days or four 10-hour days. Built-in flexibility also reduces employee burnout due to overload. ZoomShift knows flexible schedules can be challenging for employers to organize, but the benefits for you and your employees can outweigh many of those struggles. COBRA beneficiaries are responsible for paying the full premium, plus a 2% administrative fee. In 2022, the average one-way commute was 27.6 minutes. . It can also help with staff recruitment and retention, as it is an attractive benefit for potential employees. Telemedicine services are typically provided via video conferencing, but can also be delivered by phone, email or text message. She is passionate about economic development and is on the board of two non-profit organizations seeking to revitalize her former railroad town. Something went wrong. Indeed, many remote employees expect remote work to become the new normal. Its also the most popular 80% of people reported that they worked remotely at least some of the time in 2022. is a schedule in which an employee works two blocks of time separated by two or more hours. Five states and one territory require short-term disability insurance by law. Employees who are paid less than the overtime pay rate may be entitled to back pay and other damages. The current federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. PPOs allow employees to see any doctor or specialist without a referral. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) also requires employers with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees to offer health insurance to their employees or pay a penalty. And on those days, they were more productive. . Allowing employees to work flexible schedules can help retain valuable staff. If your business is busy from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and then experiences a lull until 5 p.m., a split shift would allow an employee to work the lunch shift, have a break, and then return for the dinner rush. For example, instead of working a 9-to-5 eight-hour shift, they may work 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. in a day. It can be difficult to organize and manage your team when everyone is operating on different schedules. Some of the best benefits of flexible working hours Reduced costs- If you closely notice the market trends and changes in the industry, you will find out that hot-desking policies are becoming more and more popular on a regular basis. This will be increased to 48 hours per fortnight from 1 July 2023. At-work perks are employee benefits that are available to employees while they are working, made popular by tech giants such as Google, and by startups looking to attract a new generation. Compressed work schedules allow employees to work longer hours per day in exchange for fewer work days. Addressing employers, she stressed that achieving balance on the work and family fronts is critical to Singapore's well-being. Employees get an increased feeling of personal control over their schedule and work environment. After your policy is written, you may want to consult an attorney to ensure it complies with federal, state and local labor laws. This includes attending industry conferences or webinars and enrolling in continuing education programs. Some types of parental leave are required by law (such as when FMLA applies), while other types are optional. Parental leave is an employee benefit that provides paid or unpaid time off for new parents. This also leads to increased workplace diversity. Disability insurance is a type of insurance that provides financial assistance to employees who are unable to work because of a serious injury or illness. Remote workers can make neighbors and friends think you aren't actually working, thus causing problems with relationships. An employee benefit that helps pay for dental care expenses is dental insurance. As some businesses try to push for a return to a traditional work schedule, its creating tension with their employees: 77% of managers claim they are willing to fire staff who dont return to the office full time, while 64% of employees say they would rather quit. Life insurance benefits are typically paid to the employees beneficiaries upon their death. Flexible Working: The Way Of The Future - Forbes Offering flexible work schedules will increase your ability torecruitoutstanding employees. What Are Flexible Hours and Why Employers Should Consider - Indeed Enables Employees To Produce Better Results Expecting each employee to reach their peak performance during the 9-5 time jobs is a bit too ambitious. Life insurance is a type of insurance that provides financial assistance to the beneficiaries of an employee who dies. Flexible working removes the stress imposed on employees by the 9-5 schedule. , flexible work schedules are not just a recruitment tool theyre also a tool to keep your employees healthy. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) is a federal law that allows employees to continue their group health insurance coverage after they leave their job or otherwise lose their employer-sponsored health coverage. Its Not All Paperwork: How Does HR Really Spend How Companies Can Change Their Culture to Attract Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information, Limit the Use of My Sensitive Personal Information. What is a flexible workplace, and why is it important for employees The option also reducesemployee turnover, absenteeism, and tardiness by allowing workers to flex hours around home and family obligations. 8 Benefits of Flexible Work Arrangements | Empuls Susan Heathfield is an HR and management consultant with an MS degree. Workers compensation benefits may cover the cost of medical bills, lost wages and death benefits. A split shift is a schedule in which an employee works two blocks of time separated by two or more hours. In fact, 79% of HR professionals report theyve lost a strong candidate in the last year because their workplace did not offer flexible scheduling. Over time, you can home in on the frameworks to use going forward. One that many workers point to first is the flexibility to meet family needs, personal obligations, and life responsibilities conveniently. 13 benefits of flexible working hours | Calmer In fact, 79% of HR professionals report theyve lost a strong candidate in the last year because their workplace did not offer flexible scheduling, The average cost of recruitment is roughly, , so retaining the employees you already have saves you time and money. Employees who believe they are not receiving all of their required benefits have the option of submitting a complaint to the Department of Labor or their state labor department. While many employees seek more flexibility in their schedules, companies that offer this perk can also appeal to candidates with outside obligationssuch as child care or supplemental employmentthat may prevent them from committing to strict . There are several benefits of flexible working hours for employers too. Make sure the benefits you offer are ones that your employees will actually use and appreciate. As some businesses try to push for a return to a traditional work schedule, its creating tension with their employees: Employers also saw their employees work on average 15%-20% more per week when working a flexible schedule. Without a doubt, flexibility is one of the most important perks workers want from their employers. For employees juggling family schedules and responsibilities, flexible schedules are a lifesaver. EAPs can be accessed by employees through a variety of methods, including face-to-face meetings, telephone hotline numbers and online resources. We Are Rosie founder aims to reduce stigma of flexible work (Podcast Here are several key benefits of flexible working hours that your company will experience: 1. Many managers feel that early birds are hard workers and night owls are slackers. Office-oriented people sometimes view their work-at-home colleagues as slackers because they can't physically see their activity and productivity. This income is paid out in regular monthly payments. Increased productivity, engagement, and morale, 16 Benefits of Flexible Work Schedules That Prove Its Worth It, How to create a restaurant marketing plan [+ Free template], 16 Employee Retention Strategies to Keep Your Best Workers, How To Make A Work Schedule in Excel (+ Free Template). When your workforce is engaged, they spend more time on their work and less time looking for new opportunities. Employees must have worked for their employer for at least 12 months and have worked at least 1,250 hours in the previous year to be eligible for FMLA leave. Flexible Schedules. Be sure to also incorporate the policy into future onboarding material so new hires are aware of how flextime works at your company from day one. By introducing flexible working hours, you can expect the following benefits: Benefits for employees Better focus during work hours, leading to higher productivity Hours outside of work can be used to focus on domestic and family demands Increase in job satisfaction and motivation Reduction in the number of sick days or time spent away from work In addition, providing remote and hybrid options have benefits like increasing employee engagement, morale, company loyalty, and retention, all of which are in short supply for most organizations these days. Employees will benefit, and employers will enjoy reduced operating costs and increased profitsa true win-win. Generally, employees work half their days remotely and the other half in person. Telemedicine can also benefit employers by reducing employee absenteeism and increasing productivity. Flexible Work Hours: How Employers and Employees Benefit | Jobberman Each type of plan has different rules and regulations regarding employee eligibility, employee contributions and employer contributions. Since flexible work schedules often result in better health for your employees, you may also pay less in health insurance costs over time. Pension plans are regulated by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Skye Schooley is a human resources writer at business.com and Business News Daily, where she has researched and written more than 300 articles on HR-focused topics including human resources operations, management leadership, and HR technology. When your employees have a healthy work-life balance, they feel satisfied and fulfilled in multiple areas of their lives and have an overall better quality of life. While office employees reported an average of 37 minutes each workday not getting work done, remote employees only lost 27 minutes of each workday to distractions. We'd love to hear from you, please enter your comments. Although telemedicine is not a new concept, the COVID-19 pandemic has spurred a significant increase in the use of telemedicine services. There is a substantial amount of evidence that worklife balance policies provide significant benefits to enterprises, supporting the argument that such policies are a win-win for both employers and employees, the report states. Employee discounts may be offered by the employer or by companies that have agreements with the employer. While the federal government has established a minimum wage, some states have chosen to set their own wages, which could be more or less than the nationally determined amount. However, despite the change in timing, the total daily work schedule of such employee meets the required working hours agreed between both parties. ZoomShift streamlines the work scheduling process, especially for businesses that offer flexible work schedules, with our easy-to-use hourly scheduling program. Even if your employees arent able to work remotely, which is one of the most popular flexible work schedules, other options exist to provide employees some flexibility.