The 4 Key Benefits Of Flexible Work Arrangements
Providing flexibility to employees could be even more beneficial than previously thought.
A couple major studies find that employees are more productive when they have flexibility. Specifically, they try harder, think more creatively, and typically stay with an organization longer.
But the benefits go beyond that.
Willo surveyed and interviewed over 100 HR and talent leaders around the world, from organizations ranging from 100 to 20,000 employees. Here are the key things they said their organization gains from a more flexible working structure.
This blog is an intro to our findings; read the Embracing Flexibility report for all the data.
1. Camaraderie
When people have more autonomy and flexibility, they are typically more willing to support coworkers—they know they will be supported in return.
Case Study: How Flexibility Builds Camaraderie At A 100+ Person EdTech Company
While Customer Support Reps can work remotely, they must be online for their whole shift. To add flexibility, the company staggers shift times in two hour increments (e.g. starting at 6 am, 8 am, or 10 am) to enable 24/7 coverage.
- Candidates apply to the shift they want
- Every time slot has at least two employees working
- Employees can shift switch via mutual agreement without manager approval
- Employees are allowed to arrange their own cover (e.g. asking a colleague to cover 15 minutes on a shift so they can duck out early for an obligation)
- Permanent shift switches are possible, pending team capacity
This means employees can choose the shift that works for them and there’s flexibility for life’s emergencies.
2. Wider Talent Pool
Whether co-located or remote, flexibility widens your talent pool. For example, not having to commute every day or being able to choose shift start times is a draw for many people.
The Willo team knows this benefit well. Recruiting globally has given us access to incredible talent. Today, our team is distributed across North America, Europe, and Asia, with everyone welcome in our Glasgow, Scotland head office.
3. Employee Engagement
When an employee can work in a way that balances their natural rhythm or life obligations, they can do more deep work rather than forced time-fill. Even in on-premise settings, changes like shift switching enable people to focus on work and address urgent needs.
Case Study: How Flexibility Drives Engagement
Synctera is a remote-first company that aligns to US and Canada time zones. Having that flexibility directly contributes to employees not just enjoying work, but having a great life.
“I live just outside of Toronto. I was able to hop in the car to see my parents, who live a few hours away in another city. But no one is saying ‘Hey, hold on, you're two hours further east than where you normally are.’ It’s great—I get to have a great dinner with my folks and catch up, and the work still gets done.” — Zoe Schafer, Director of People, Synctera
4. Inclusion
Flexible working arrangements let employees pick the working structure that’s best for them. Rather than singling individuals out with special programs, people can design their life in a way that fulfills both work and life obligations without having to disclose personal details.
"Flexibility is important for hiring, engagement, retention, and inclusion because it respects the different people who want to work—or are used to working—differently. Whether that’s a caregiving role, parents, or simply preference, it’s about giving people some autonomy to govern their day, within the context of the new work reality" — Jodi Kovitz, CEO, Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA)
How Companies Empower Flexible Work
Accruing the business benefits of flexibility—productivity, engagement, and retention—requires program design.
Here’s what (and how) top organizations design for success:
- Performance management
- Ways of work
- Technology
- Employee set up
To learn all the details and read real case studies of companies implementing flexible work arrangements, read the entire Embracing Flexibility report.
Read the Embracing Flexibility Report now
