The American workplace is changing. Today, more people are telecommuting and employers try to create a better work-life balance for employees; this is an essential element of career satisfaction. Telecommuting allows employees to work from home, even if only on certain days. Flextime allows workers to accommodate individual needs, such as running errands, picking up children or going to appointments. Implementing employment policies and programs that are both employee and family-friendly has proved to have a positive effect on retention.
As mentioned in a two-year study by PwC, “millennials are particularly partial to flextime positions, as they demand more flexibility to live where they want, spend more time with family and define how they want to live.” It comes down to “jobs that fit with their lives, not the other way around,” as said in an Entrepreneur.com post.
Telework and flextime are now a retention strategy. These arrangements also are beneficial to companies, by helping employees maintain balance, can count on them to be more productive on the job. Such working arrangements not only keep workers happy, but also are good for productivity, morale, and the working environment.
It is important for companies to focus on workforce management (WFM). Proper WFM techniques can help them deliver appropriate flexible work options while improving performance, reducing travel costs and time spent on training, getting new hires up to speed quicker and retaining talents.
In addition to helping employees eliminate long and frustrating commutes and lead more rounded lives, as the post states, “telecommuting allows companies to quickly scale up, extend service hours and add extra shifts quickly without committing to additional office space or adding significant resources.”
Although some companies are worried that allowing employees more flexibility or the ability to work remotely could hinder their ability to get work done, it has actually been observed that these measures can boost employee engagement and lead to better job performance. Consequently, businesses are implementing more virtual workplaces today; they are recruiting remote talents from all over the world with different skillsets and are offering various schedules to widen their applicants’ pools.
The employment of remote employees is becoming more and more prominent in companies that setup contact centers where conference call services are an integral part of the job. Greg Baker, CFO of Logicalis (News - Alert), recently said, “Extending the telework option removes geography as limiting factor and allows you to attract the very best talent wherever they are.”
In sum, working from home offers a flexible schedule that balances one's personal and professional life. CIOs that make flex work a simple, secure and effective part of their strategy can likely see a positive effect in retention; in addition, they are sure to find their employees more productive, healthier and happier.