What are flexible work arrangements

As the economy diversifies and technology progresses, flexible work arrangements are becoming more common. In fact, over half of business globally now have flexible working policies in place.

Flexible working practices can mean many different things, depending on your industry and your role.

Flexible working hours for work-life balance

Organizing kids’ pickup/drop off times, helping out elderly parents, or managing your own health appointments can prove difficult to juggle when they all occur during work hours. That’s why many businesses offer the flexibility to change start and finish times, or even condense your hours over less days.

As long as the hours are agreed beforehand, this is a simple flexible working practice for businesses to implement. But it can have a big impact in terms of making life a bit more manageable for employees. Even if your work runs on fixed hours it is always worth having a discussion with your boss to see how you can work together to come up with a solution that works for everyone.

Remote working: Benefits and Challenges

With the increasing pace of technological advancements, many professional workers are now able to work away from the office using laptops. Remote work in Australia can be anywhere from one day a week, to never needing to set foot in the office. Not having to deal with the commute everyday can make a massive difference to your energy levels, productivity and general wellbeing.

Make sure you think about how remote working could work for you before you discuss the possibility with your employer. Remote working is a great flexible working practice, but it requires some forethought. Having an appropriate office setup, managing workloads and expectations and keeping in touch with your teammates all require some extra effort to make it work.

Job-sharing

Another ever more popular flexible work arrangement is the job share. Changing a full-time role into to part-time roles provides a range of benefits to both employee and employer. If this type of arrangement works for you financially, it can be a great way to restore some balance and higher levels of well-being in your life.

Working in a role with some flexibility isn’t just about more time at home or being less tired. Employees that take advantage of flexible work arrangements can be healthier, less stressed and more engaged at work.

Talk to your employer about flexible work arrangements

There are a variety of other flexible working practices that your employer may offer. Extra paid leave, paid volunteering days or flexible dress codes are just a few examples. Many businesses are now looking at how they can show their employees that they are valued and appreciated.

If you would benefit from some flexibility in your work day, it’s worth starting a dialogue with your boss. Just ask the question, you may be surprised at what’s available!