In recent years, workplace flexibility has become one of the key components in attracting and retaining staff. In fact, a recent study has shown that 97% of Australian employees want some form of flexibility, whilst a further 40% said they would reject a job offer if it lacked flexible working opportunities.

By creating a flexible working culture, you are demonstrating trust in your employees and this increased level of autonomy can be a strong motivator. However, not all organisations have come to the table in implementing long-term, workable strategies. Whilst a stigma around working from home (or other flexible working options) remains, flexible workplaces that strive to make this an everyday practice reap the rewards, including attracting and retaining the best talent on the market. After all, when employees are able to fit their career in around their lifestyles, this makes work easier and more sustainable.

Wanting to find out how to introduce flexible working? This guide to workplace flexibility best practice outlines everything you need to get you started.

Benefits for Employees

For most employees, the goal is finding a better balance between work and personal lives. An increasingly common offering is the ability for employees to choose their own work schedule, allowing staff to manage home commitments like school pickups, cultural commitments or even personal interests such as studying, fitness or other hobbies. The key benefit here is the reduction of stress in one’s daily life, such as daily commutes and other outside pressures such as childcare. In fact, studies have shown that after implementing flexibility in the workplace, employees sleep better, have higher energy levels and improved mental health.

Benefits for Employers

Flexible working offers a number of advantages not just for employees, but for employers as well. Happier, healthier and less stressed employees lead to higher staff retention and more loyalty; ultimately saving money and time in recruitment and upskilling.

Productivity boosts and reduced absenteeism are also common benefits, with flexible work schedules giving employees the ability to manage their time better and avoid having to miss work through other commitments and appointments that crop up from time to time.

Finally, flexible workplaces can have a positive impact on workplace diversity. Working parents, especially working mothers, are able to make an easier transition when returning to the workforce. There are also opportunities for jobseekers working in remote locations to access roles that were once required to be within their physical geographic area.

Practical Tips to Get You Started

If you would like to implement flexible working within your organisation, here are our key pieces of advice to keep in mind:

1. Produce policies and guidelines for flexible working

Documenting procedures for flexible working arrangements are useful when starting out, as it allows you to set clear parameters and expectations ahead of time. It’s important that both management and employees see this as a new way of working rather than a perk of the job or a privilege that must be earned. These policies might include practices such as flexitime, working from home and telecommuting to name a few.

2. Leverage technology

There is so much software available to support flexible working practices, from communication tools like Skype and project management programs like Trello, to document sharing software like Google Docs. Invest the time upfront in researching what your team or organisation needs to succeed and trial different programs until you find the best one for you. Many of these programs have free versions with limited capabilities, so you might need to set a budget to secure the best resources.

3. Organise regular catch-ups

Consider organising regular meetings or social events where teams come together. Employees working from home full-time can sometimes feel isolated so it’s important to ensure there are still opportunities for them to network and bond with their team members. This is also a great chance to ask for feedback about the flexible working culture and see if there are any areas for improvement.

Summary

What has your organisation done to approach workplace flexibility? With the way the workforce is going, it’s fast becoming the norm – and organisations that do nothing in this area to help attract and retain staff will likely be left behind.

Our team at First People Recruitment Solutions are specialists in Indigenous recruitment, and can provide advice and support on flexible working arrangements when hiring into your team – get in touch today!