There are more than 300 ways to work flexibly – here are four tips to make it work for you

Do you know that, in response to a latest research, there are greater than 300 methods to work flexibly? The listing of doable versatile work practices utilized by an more and more numerous and ageing workforce has grown considerably since many individuals had been pressured to earn a living from home throughout COVID lockdowns.

Earlier than the pandemic, you might have related versatile work with issues like working from residence, part-time work or diminished hours. Now? You may work a compressed week or diminished hours, job share, or take flexi time or particular go away, reminiscent of a sabbatical. There are additionally location-based types of flexibility, like flex-place and hybrid working.

Usually talking, a versatile work association refers to any type of schedule or work area with out the standard constraints of a standard 9-5 work association in an workplace or different location hosted by your employer.

The latest increase in versatile working practices brings advantages for each employers and workers. When carried out correctly, work flexibility makes lives simpler for a lot of workers, improves their job satisfaction and reduces absenteeism and commute-related stress. For employers, it will increase their means to draw, retain, and inspire workers, boosts variety and inclusion, and is related to decrease overhead prices and even carbon emissions.

However not all versatile working preparations are created equal. The elevated autonomy that flexibility brings can blur the boundaries between work and personal life. Working flexibly can lead to longer working days or create the expectation of workers being obtainable always, which might improve emotions of labor strain and even result in burnout.

Our analysis exhibits that flexibility rules and frameworks on the nationwide stage assist create the “guidelines of the sport” for versatile work preparations, in essence making certain that versatile work doesn’t turn out to be (self) exploitative.

Is flexibility the brand new norm?

The COVID pandemic may need nearly expanded the provision of versatile work preparations, however this doesn’t imply that they’re accessible to everybody. Our analysis means that entry to flexibility continues to rely closely on a rustic’s employment relations, insurance policies, and rules – parts which might be quickly altering in lots of international locations.

Some international locations are introducing new rules to maintain tempo with the sweeping modifications to post-pandemic work practices. In 2024, for instance, the Employment Relations (Versatile Working) invoice is prone to come into impact within the UK. It would improve the variety of occasions an worker can request versatile working every year and cut back employers’ determination interval about such functions. Collective bargaining between commerce unions and employers can supply an essential extra layer of flexibility and safety, above and past such nationwide rules.

Certainly, flexibility is formed by employers’ dedication to supply and allow entry to versatile working preparations. It’s additionally primarily based on their willingness to study from folks’s experiences (like through the COVID pandemic) to develop extra versatile methods of working that benefit each the organisation and its workers. After all, line managers form actual capabilities on the bottom.

However even when employers are dedicated, in observe, flexibility is extremely depending on job traits. Some jobs, reminiscent of cleansing or upkeep, merely can’t be carried out remotely. Different work could require set shifts, reminiscent of nursing and policing.

Societal expectations – significantly assumptions about what men and women “ought to do” when it comes to paid work, caring tasks and house responsibilities – additionally matter when attempting to make flexibility a actuality. Ladies are sometimes anticipated to make use of versatile preparations to fulfil extra conventional roles, like being a homemaker or major caregiver. However the usage of flexibility amongst males has been usually interpreted as an absence of dedication to work, making a so-called flexibility stigma.

However, if carried out effectively, versatile preparations can assist each women and men make work (extra) suitable with different tasks. So what must you search for when looking for versatile work?

1. Be versatile about flexibility

Flexibility is just not a one-size-fits-all work association. How enticing a given versatile work association is to you probably will depend on the life stage you’re at, in addition to that of your loved ones or companion (if in case you have one). Take into consideration what suits and why. Sure, flexibility will be advantageous. But in addition remember that society expects various things from us as women and men – bear in mind, it’s OK to go in opposition to the movement.

2. Discover out what is offered to you

Entry to versatile work preparations may be regulated by your employer, a collective settlement between your union and office, or nationwide legislation. Discuss to an HR consultant, your line supervisor or union rep about choices obtainable to you. Inform them about your explicit circumstances, for instance if in case you have an invisible incapacity or sickness, or if in case you have caring tasks.

3. Plan forward and talk effectively

Possibly you need to attempt a versatile work association for a restricted time period. In that case, verify the situations hooked up. What number of occasions a 12 months you possibly can request versatile working, for instance, or any stipulations (like tenure necessities) or any potential employer contribution for gear prices and electrical energy/heating payments. You may often negotiate these situations.

Additionally, maintain an eye fixed out for reversibility, which suggests you’re allowed to return to your earlier working association if wanted or desired.

4. Get geared up for versatile work

Lastly, get a way of what you’ll want to work flexibly and/or remotely. You may be slicing out commuting prices, however versatile working might result in totally different work-related, out-of-pocket bills. Many employers will cowl a few of these prices inside cause, or your work could present the gear you’ll want to work flexibly, reminiscent of a laptop computer.

With greater than 300 sorts of versatile work preparations on the market, figuring out how you can make your working life extra versatile will be daunting. By being knowledgeable, planning forward, speaking, and being versatile about flexibility, you can begin to know the upsides and disadvantages of recent working practices within the post-pandemic world of labor.