Flexible Work Arrangements: The Future of Employment in 2021

Flexible work programs are work arrangements wherein employees are given greater scheduling freedom in how they fulfill the obligations of their positions. The most commonplace of these programs is flextime, which gives workers far greater leeway in terms of the time when they begin and end work, provided they put in the total number of hours required by the employer. Other common flexible working arrangements involve telecommuting, job-sharing, and compressed work weeks.

Studies show that employees who participate in flex work arrangements report higher levels of job satisfaction and reduced levels of burnout and psychological stress than employees at companies who do not offer flex work arrangements.

Workplaces today offer a wide range of flexible work arrangements. What arrangements are provided, and they are defined, can vary widely. Before you put programs and policies in place to ensure your organization will enjoy the benefits while avoiding the most common pitfalls commonly associated with flexible workplaces.