Companies explore the use of flexible work arrangements for a variety of reasons. Often it's offered as an attractive benefit for potential employees and as an incentive to keep high performers from walking out the door. Usually the purpose of these types of initiatives is to create work-life balance and allow employees to experience more flexibility in how, when, and where they work. But as you'll see, they fall short in accomplishing those goals.
Here are three reasons why telecommuting and flexible schedules aren't the answer you've been looking for, as well as an alternative that works better.
Not Available to Everyone
In most companies, the right to work remotely or outside of the standard 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. hours must be earned. It's a privilege that's rewarded to high performing employees or those that have tenure with the organization. The access to flexible schedules is also commonly restricted to certain positions. If you manage others, deal directly with customers, or are an administrative assistant, your company is unlikely to think telecommuting will work for your job.
Work-Life Balance is Not Improved
Flexible schedule is an oxymoron, isn't it? Telecommuting and most flexible schedules are actually quite inflexible. You can telecommute one day a week, but you must choose either Monday or Friday, and that day cannot change. You can work 4-day weeks, but you choose your day off, and it cannot altered.
Control Is In Management's Hands
In a traditional organization, employees must ask permission to telecommute or work flexible hours. It's up to management as to whether or not the request is granted. A manager can turn down a request to telecommute for any reason because there are few guidelines surrounding the process of approval.
If telecommuting and flexible work arrangements aren't the answer, what is? A results-only work environment (ROWE) offsets the shortcomings of telecommuting and flexible schedules. In a ROWE, employees are free to work when they want and where they want, as long as their work gets done. A ROWE prevails when a flexible schedule fall short:
Available to All Employees
Every employee is free to choose where, when, and how they will work-regardless of tenure or position. It's not a privilege; it's just how things work in a ROWE.
Work-Life Balance is Determined by the Individual
People working in a ROWE realize you cannot prescribe what work-life balance looks like for everyone! They also recognize that life changes from day to day and week to week. Working in the office on a Monday, at home on Tuesday, and from a coffee shop near a client's office on Wednesday may work one week, but the next week things will change. Each person can adjust their work schedule to fit their life as needed.
Control Is In Employees' Hands
When you work in a results-only company, how you work is up to you. Employees have control, not management. Research has shown that when employees with demanding jobs experience a high level of control over their work, they are happier, more fulfilled, work more productively, and experience less stress. Who wouldn't want that for their team?
Take time to review your company's policies on telecommuting and flexible work arrangements. Do they truly accomplish the objectives for which they are designed or do they fall short in the ways mentioned here? If you're looking for a way to increase productivity and work-life balance in your company, consider offering your team a results-only work environment.
©Copyright 2009 Ashley Acker
Ashley Acker, Ph.D., WorkStyle Design Expert and Coach, works with small business owners and their teams to redesign work so everyone wins. Learn how to boost your team's productivity, develop a competitive advantage in your business, and enjoy unlimited freedom and flexibility with our FREE report, 5 Secrets to Change the Way You Work...FOREVER!
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