How to Nail Your Flexible Work Policy to Keep Employees Happy

You’d be hard pressed to find a modern workplace that still enforces an eight-hour on-site workday. Most companies now offer remote, hybrid and flexible working arrangements where employees can set their own pace and continue to churn out work. This new-age flexible work arrangement allows employees to enjoy better work-life balance, do quality work and maintain side hustles.

Learn more: 25 Entrepreneurs Share Their Feelings on Mastering Work-Life Balance

A flexible work policy can have a positive impact on nearly everything in the office, including workplace communication styles and team work. There’s more time to accomplish tasks and discuss projects, since employees don’t have to wait for each other to come into work before they can have meetings. Let’s take a quick look at how a flexible work policy works before we discuss the benefits of implementing the perfect one.

What is a flexible work policy?

There are numerous work arrangements that can slot under this umbrella term, depending on how you look at it. A flexible work policy can mean different things in different workplaces. Some companies give workers the option of working entirely from remote locations, while others ask for a hybrid working system where employees have to visit the office from time to time. Flexibility is the common thread among the varying policies; employees shouldn’t feel like they’re tied to their desks.

The best flexible work policies keep employee autonomy at the forefront. For example, you can allow employees to take multiple work from home days as long as they’re reachable when necessary. There are plenty of phone systems in the cloud that you can use to establish contact with all your remote employees. Your employees will feel like you trust them to finish their deliverables and will likely be more productive as a result.

Here are some examples of different kinds of flexible work arrangements:

• The Job Share: Think of this as a part time arrangement where two employees divide one worker’s duties among themselves, creating a manageable workload
• The Full Flex: This arrangement grants employees full autonomy to create their own working hours, structure tasks and plan workdays
• The Remote Model: Employees don’t need to visit the office and can work from any location around the globe. Small business PBX phone systems can help keep communication lines open in this flexible work arrangement
• The Flexible Hours System: Employees have to work a standard number of hours, but they can divide these between workdays on their own; for example, an employee can work two 12-hour days instead of three 8 hour ones

The benefits of a good flexible work policy

There’s a strong link between a flexible work policy and higher employee satisfaction. According to FlexJobs, 87% of employees said they enjoy a better work-life balance in a flexible work arrangement, while 57% said they would resign from a company that didn’t offer remote work options.

An efficient flexible work policy can reduce employee turnover, boost productivity and enhance company reputation in the job market. You’ll see a definite increase in employee satisfaction and happiness if you nail the perfect flexible work arrangement.

How to create the perfect flexible work arrangement

Here are some tips you can use to craft a great flexible work system:

1. Work with structure

The best flexible work arrangements are formed with a sense of structure. You can’t have your employees working off on individual arrangements because this can cause communication breakdowns. Instead, create flexibility within a certain structure so essential tasks and communication continue to flow.

A good way to do this is through regular check-ins. Your employees will know that they have freedom to plan their work days and weeks as long as they agree to attend key check-ins. This will ensure that they communicate with fellow workers, coordinate tasks and add positively to company culture.

2. Craft career paths

The danger with some flexible work arrangements is that these can hamper employee growth if not implemented properly. If your workers feel like they’re beginning to stagnate, it’s a good time to rework their flexible work arrangement. Make sure that your flexible work policy has helpful skill refreshers, workshops, bonding exercises and knowledge-sharing sessions.

These elements will let employees know that you want them to grow and succeed in their careers, even if you don’t see them in the office every day. This kind of flexible work arrangement will help keep them motivated and happy.

3. Give recognition and rewards

If you have a flexible work arrangement where some or most employees work remotely, they might feel disconnected from the company. Recognizing achievements and milestones is a great way to ensure employee engagement and increase motivation. You could create a list of milestones that are specific to each employee or team and hand out awards when these are achieved.

Your employees will enjoy feeling appreciated and will feel valued by the company. It’s almost too easy to feel invisible if you don’t visit the office every day or on a frequent basis. Giving out awards or rewarding employees in this way will guarantee that they feel like an integral part of the team and are motivated to work harder for the business.

The bottom line

Modern day workers require flexible work arrangements to stay happy, productive and motivated. This means that companies need to create the perfect type of work system that gives employees the work-life balance they need while rewarding businesses with good quality output. It’s easy to craft the perfect flexible work arrangement because there are so many different kinds to choose from.

Make sure you prioritize employee autonomy and internal communication when creating your arrangement. It’s important that employees feel heard, valued and engaged by their workplace, whether or not they work on site. It’s equally vital that they maintain open channels of communication with their colleagues so that they don’t feel lonely or demotivated. You’ll have the perfect flexible work arrangement once you incorporate all these factors.