More and more companies are giving their employees the option to work in flex time. This kind of schedule can help both employees and employers in a big way. In this article, we shall talk about flex time, an example of it, and its pros and cons. Furthermore, how to set up Flex time management and what kinds of jobs most often use this schedule.
What is Flex Time meaning?
Flex time is a policy in which employees work on flexible hours. In this policy, people work in their schedules instead of a traditional system like 9 to 5. Most flextime policies require workers to be in the office at certain times every day for meetings and to work together.
Flex Time management is very beneficial for companies or any business. It lowers the stress and burnout of employees and gives them more time and freedom. It can also help employers cut unplanned absences and save money on healthcare costs.
How does flex time work?
As already described, flextime usually allows workers to pick their hours. Still, rules and laws must be made to ensure the system works. For example, companies often tell employees how many hours they must work at least to meet company goals.
Also, most of the time, flextime is only for salaried employees who are exempt from overtime rules and minimum wage laws.
What is a flextime manager?
Flex Time Manager (FTM) is software that allows you to set up your activity times. Students can choose their options daily, while teachers can customize their offerings. FTM helps with remediation, peer tutoring, accelerated learning, and activities outside of school. Students have a voice and a choice. On the hand, teachers can lock any student into their activity.
Is Flex Time management a good idea?
Flex time management means that employees can work shifts other than Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. It has the following benefits.
- Reducing absenteeism and tardiness
- Making customers easier to reach
- Boosting morale
- Increasing productivity
When setting up a flexible work schedule, the employer must know how many hours the employee will work. Setting the hours per business day is another idea. This makes the rules of the workplace clearer and helps employees know when their coworkers are available.
What is an Example of flextime?
For example, an employee work from 10 am to 4 pm, and the next day his duty timing is 7.30 am to 2.30 pm.
Another example is an employee who works 10 hours per day for four days and the next three days are off for him.
Remote work
When someone works from home, they don’t have to be at the job site every day. This can be done from home, a coworking space, or anywhere the employee feels comfortable.
Job Sharing
Job sharing means work divided between two employees or more. Here each person works on certain days. This type is the oldest way to work in flexible time.
Hybrid Work
It’s a type in which people can work at home or office. This can include working from home one or two days a week and going to the office the other days.
Compressed workweek
This type of work means employees work some days, then the remaining days take off. The compressed workweek allows people to work longer days on fewer days of the week. This can be a good choice for people who want more time off during the week.
Comp time
This type means people work more than 40 hours. This is an excellent choice for people who like to keep a flexible schedule that fits in with their other obligations.
Advice for adopting flexible working hours
Flextime can help improve many parts of an organization once it is implemented well. Here we give two pieces of advice when you are working on flex time management.
- Good communication
Good communication is necessary for any business. People work at different places and hours, so they need to talk to each other. Team leaders should ask their workers how they are doing and see if there is anything they can do to help.
- Put the policy on flexible hours in the employee handbook
Putting the company’s policy on flexible hours in the employee handbook can save a lot of trouble. Employees and employers can start the process with many questions already answered if they have written down what is expected of them.
How do you manage a flexible schedule at work?
You must give clear rules and also check to employ work regularly. Here we will mention some tips on how to manage a flexible schedule.
1. Talk with your staff
Talk to your team employee before making a flexible hour schedule. The new schedule may not benefit them. Make sure that most people will get the benefit. Also, talk to each employee individually and as a group to find their thoughts.
2. Create clear guidelines
2nd step is to set clear rules for your employees. It will touch people to each other and be on the same page. Every worker won’t feel alone or left out.
You should require the following:
Core hours
Here a full schedule provides when employees do work. However, you will work from 10 am to noon, and all meetings should be set up at this time.
Acceptable work hours
Tell employees when they can work, from 6 am to 7 pm.
Hour requirements
Here employee needs to work eight hours every day or 40 hours in four days.
3. Use TimeCamp to keep track of your flexible time
Since more people are choosing to work from home, you need a way to track everything and measure performance. Here, you can use different kinds of software and apps.
Timecamp is software to track people’s work or projects. Here are some ways TimeCamp can help you manage your employees who work flexible hours:
- Keep track of how well your team is doing on different projects. TimeCamp will keep track of your team’s hours so you can focus on more critical tasks.
- Make sure people connect with each other for work. You don’t need to micromanage your team. They can take charge of their work and do it better with Time Camp.
4. Let your team decide when they want to use their flextime
You should let your employees choose when they want flex time. Let them fill out what times work best for them before you decide. This way, your employees’ work, and personal lives will sync. It will make your job easier. If you let your employees choose their hours, you have to remember that everyone works differently.
Advantages and benefits of flex time management
- Make sure employees are happy
- Lessen the amount of stress
- Reduced overtime
- Productivity increase
- Better relationships between employees and managers
- Flexibility gives employees more chances to get better
What is the disadvantage of flex time management?
Employees need to learn how to use flexible hours.
- Poor communication with employees.
- Head departments need time to get used to the new way of managing
- Problems with close friends and family
- Can be hard to plan and coordinate meetings
- Overtime hours are harder to keep track of