Flexible work arrangements have become increasingly important for job-seekers in recent years. With work-life balance and flexibility being placed at the forefront of employee priorities, companies are recognizing the need to offer more than just higher pay and bonuses to attract and retain top talent.
This trend has only been further accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, with more and more people looking to prioritize their personal lives. Flexible office spaces have played a crucial role in facilitating improvements in this area, enabling employees to work in new environments and providing greater control over their work schedules. In this article, we will explore some examples of successful flexible work arrangements that have benefited both employees and employers.
Types of Flexible Working Arrangements
Here are ten common types of flexible working arrangements being adopted by companies:
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Flextime
Employees have the flexibility to choose their start and end times, as long as they complete the required daily/weekly hours. This arrangement is useful for those who need to accommodate personal commitments.
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Job Sharing
Two employees share a single full-time position, splitting the hours and responsibilities between them. It's suited for those who need to balance their work with other commitments.
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Telecommuting
Employees work from home or another remote location for all/part of their workweek. It's useful for those who live far away from their workplace or need to avoid commuting during peak hours.
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Compressed workweek
Employees work a full-time schedule over fewer days, such as working four ten-hour days instead of five eight-hour days. It's useful for those who prefer longer weekends or need to accommodate personal commitments.
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Part-time work
Employees work fewer hours than full-time employees, typically less than 30 hours per week. It's useful for those who need to balance work with other commitments.
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Annualized hours
Employees work a set number of hours over the course of a year, with the flexibility to vary their work schedules on a weekly/monthly basis. It's useful for those who work in industries with seasonal fluctuations.
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Staggered hours
Employees work different start and end times, with the goal of reducing congestion during peak hours. It's useful for those who need to avoid rush hour traffic.
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Phased retirement
Employees gradually reduce their hours and responsibilities as they approach retirement age. It's useful for those who want to work part-time in their later years.
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Career breaks
Employees take extended periods of time off work, typically for personal or family reasons. It's useful for those who need to take time off to care for a family member or travel.
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Flexplace
Employees work from different locations, such as client sites, satellite offices or coworking spaces. It's useful for those who need to be closer to clients or who travel frequently.
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5 examples of flexible working arrangement
1. Adaptavist: Embracing Fully Hybrid Work
The first of our flexible working examples comes from Adaptavist—a software solutions company that has embraced all work styles to create a full hybrid system for their employees. Hybrid working is one of the most flexible styles of work. It allows staff to choose between working from the office, their home, or telecommuting.
At Adaptavist, they believe in an ‘outcome-focused’ way of work. They want employees to produce excellent results, but how they get there is up to them. If this means working 2 hours in the morning and 4 hours at midnight from home – that’s fine! If it means working an 8-hour day at the office, it is equally as OK.
Employees at Adaptavist are also able to take advantage of flexible workspace. Without being confined to specific company offices, they have more freedom over their workday - and personal life.
2. Humana: Adopting Flexible Work Schedules
For many employees, working from home does not affect their output. But, for customer service representatives, not having access to the right tools and technology can severely impact their work.
At Humana, a U.S healthcare company, they introduced flexible work models into their business, but these policies did not benefit the call centre team. This is because their calls could only be recorded at their desks. Other staff used flexible office solutions and chose their hours, but call centre staff had to work where their equipment was—the office. In response to this, Humana equipped all call centre staff with new technology. This allowed them to complete their work as normal, regardless of their location.
This meant that all staff, regardless of department or responsibilities, were able to enjoy the perks of remote work. Now, Humana is one of the best case studies of implementing flexible work schedules that are beneficial company-wide.
3. Unilever: Endorsing Remote Work Model
Despite being a large, established company, Unilever has always been very forward-thinking when it comes to its work programmes.
The consumer goods brand has long allowed its employees to work from anywhere, making them a great flexible workspace case study. They do not even ask employees to work a regular 9-5 day. Instead, they get the freedom to complete their work at any time that suits them. Whether they want to work from home, a flexible office space, or a completely different country, Unilever supports them with adaptable work programmes. They also all have access to the technology they need to keep work standards high.
This flexibility has been made successful through the implementation of flexible office space. This helped staff adapt to the new ways of working seamlessly. Alongside these arrangements, staff can also take part in job-sharing, reduced hours, and other examples of flexible working arrangements to help them to prioritise their work-life balance.
4. Forster Communications: Laying out Incentivised Working Plan
Forster Communications, a London-based PR agency, is a good flexible workspace case study that shows even small companies can offer flexibility. The company, which has only 25 employees, is known for its work addressing the issues of mental health in the workplace. They have also incorporated many incentivised perks that encourage staff to prioritise their mental health.
Forster Communications offer staff five weeks of annual leave a year, flexible working hours, cycle-to-work schemes, and cashback for the miles they travel to meetings.
These perks allow workers the choice to work in flexible office space a few days a week. This change of scenery ultimately allowed for more productivity and motivation in their work.
5. Monzo: Prioritising Employee Wellbeing
Not only is Monzo disrupting the banking industry as we know it, but they are also turning corporate and work culture on their heads. Their central office, located at Finsbury Square in London, offers employees weekly yoga and pilates sessions, team-building events around the city, plus extra days of paid annual leave.
In addition to the already-generous holiday entitlement, Monzo goes the extra mile to allow successful flexible work arrangements by giving an additional month of unpaid leave every year for those pursuing personal projects. This could include anything like travelling, learning a new language, or training for a marathon.
Monzo is an excellent flexible workspace case study as they have shown how to prioritise employee wellbeing while making office life adaptable and exciting. Despite the office being a central focus for this innovative start-up, they also allow staff the flexibility to choose where they work. Whether that is from flexible office space throughout the week or the central office—they have well and truly put the power in the hands of their staff.
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Conclusion
It has become increasingly common for companies to provide flexible work arrangements for their employees. By examining the successful case studies of such arrangements, you can see the benefits they provide. Be it allowing employees to work from flexible office spaces, increasing their vacation days, or providing the necessary tools to work from anywhere, the future of work lies in flexibility.
Compass Offices is a pioneer in providing flexible office solutions that cater to the needs of modern businesses. They understand that a one-size-fits-all approach is not effective, and hence they offer personalized workspace solutions to meet the unique requirements of their clients. With multiple locations in APAC, Compass Offices is well-equipped to assist businesses of all sizes and sectors in creating a workspace that encourages productivity, collaboration, and innovation. Contact them today to learn more about how they can help your company thrive in this new era of work.