Flexible work arrangements are work programs that enable flexibility in work schedules or the place of work.

Flexible work arrangements are hugely popular among employees, mainly because they promote work-life balance.

FWAs are critical to retention, as research by FlexJobs shows that nearly one-third of workers have sought employment elsewhere because their employer failed to provide flexible work arrangements.

Some of the types of FWAs are:

• Telecommuting.
• Flextime.
• Compressed workweek.
• Part-time work or reduced work hours.
• Job sharing.

1. Telecommuting

According to the Society for Human Resource Management, telecommuting “involves the use of computers and telecommunications technology to overcome the constraints of location or time on work.”

Telecommuting lets employees perform their normal job duties away from their central workplace — such as from home, a telework center or any other approved alternative worksite. Depending on the situation, employees may telecommute all or part of the workweek. Telecommuting can also be implemented on an emergency basis, such as during inclement weather, natural disasters,. and of course COVID-19.

2. Flextime

Flextime, also called a flexible work schedule, allows employees greater latitude in choosing their starting and ending work times. You might, for example, set a core number of hours the employee must work each week and then permit the employee to pick their arrival and departure times. Employees wanting to improve their work-life balance are most likely to appreciate flextime.

3. Compressed workweek

Employees on a compressed schedule perform their job duties in fewer days — such as four 10-hour days instead of five 8-hour days. This results in longer time off from work, which facilitates work-life balance and allows the employee to save on certain expenses, such as commuting and child care costs.

Employers as well can benefit from fully adopting a compressed workweek schedule. For instance, overhead costs are less because employees are not on-site as much.

4. Part-time work or reduced work hours

Of all the flexible scheduling options, part-time work is the most commonplace. Employees who do not want to work a full-time schedule — for example, students, working parents and older workers — often seek part-time work, which is usually regarded as less than 35 hours per week. Certain jobs, such as those in the food service and retail sectors, are more naturally geared toward part-time employment than are others.

5. Job sharing

Job sharing occurs when two employees share the responsibilities of one full-time role, splitting the duties between them so each person works part time. For instance, you may require one employee to work Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and the other employee to work Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Employees looking to balance their professional and personal lives may especially be interested in job sharing. To avoid issues in the long run, job sharing must be carefully thought out, implemented and managed.

As the labor force continues to evolve, more and more flexible work arrangements are cropping up. Companies should think about which of these might help them adapt and thrive into the future. If you’d need help selecting a Flexible Work Arrangement for your team please reach out to us at, 772-466-0440 we’re happy to help.

Copyright 2024

Why Atlantic Payroll Partners

The biggest payroll companies probably won’t have time for your business. It’s that simple, you’ll be a number. At Atlantic Payroll Partners, you’ll be the opposite. We’ll know more than your name; we’ll know the names of your children and their birthday’s as well. We will know you.

We’ve been helping Florida business by managing their payroll and providing workers' compensation quotes for ten years. We help keep payroll cost affordable by provided transparent PEO payroll quotes that allow you to plan your budget accordingly. Like the big payroll companies, you can manage your payroll and payroll timekeeping with us, while reaping the benefits of PEO risk management.

Thinking about payroll outsourcing can be scary. Make sure you know what to expect from payroll outsourcing providers; to make the best decision for your business. In addition to offering payroll, and workers' comp quote we offer: Human Resource consultations, Accounting services, and benefits such as, 401ks and Healthcare plans.