The advantages and disadvantages of flexible working
Author: Laurene Ekladious
Date of Publication: 17/02/2023
Flexible work offers both employers and employees some benefits and drawbacks. Advantages include greater flexibility, lower real estate costs, higher productivity and greater job satisfaction. However, remote work can also lead to issues with team cohesion, communication and data security.
What is flexible working and why do we use it?
Flexible working can be defined as a type of work organization that allows employees to choose where and when they work. It can take the form of flexible hours, telecommuting, or a combination of both. Employees can choose their work hours based on their personal and professional needs. This allows employees to better manage their time and stress. In addition, benefits include better management of personal and professional obligations, a major recruiting asset, reduced stress and fatigue, better work-life balance, and greater commuting flexibility.
Unfortunately, there are some limitations.
However, there are also drawbacks to this type of work organization. The lack of physical contact between team members can lead to a decreased sense of belonging to the company and a decrease in cohesion between members. In addition, it is difficult for managers to monitor employee performance from a distance. Then, there is an increased risk of sensitive data being compromised if it is not properly protected. Sometimes, flexible scheduling can be uncomfortable or complex for some employees to manage and is not feasible for all positions.
In addition, flexibility can lead to decreased communication between employees. There are also challenges associated with this type of work arrangement. These include lack of supervision, potential for inefficiencies and decreased quality and communication, time-consuming cultural change, risk of employee alienation from decision-making processes, increased complexity and security issues, challenges of coordination between remote and in-office workers, and the need for training in the technologies required for remote work. It is important for employers to consider all aspects of what is involved when implementing a flexible work model to ensure that it is successful.
Is it well to use it?
In conclusion, flexible work offers many benefits for both employees and employers. Employees benefit from a better work-life balance, as well as more flexibility to meet their personal obligations and interests. Employers can take advantage of modern work models, such as flexible hours or partial or full telecommuting, to improve their attractiveness to potential candidates. However, there are also drawbacks associated with flexible work. It can be difficult for a company to visualize and understand all the issues and impacts of flexible work. In addition, when employees are allowed to choose their own schedules, they may be tempted to abuse the system or be less productive. Therefore, it is important that companies find the time to carefully evaluate the pros and cons of flexible work before adopting it.
Reference List
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