Tired of the same old work routine? Having difficulty balancing obligations at work and at home? Is your traditional work arrangement affecting your health, your performance at work, and your relationship with family and friends? Many countries and companies have found a solution to this problem: flextime work arrangement.

What is flextime?

A flextime work allows you to choose the hours you will work. It is a flexible work schedule, unlike traditional work schedules that require you to work a standard 9 am - 5 pm five days a week.

Under this arrangement, employees either work a condensed work or a regular work week. Employees who work a condensed week work for 10 hours daily for four days, instead of the traditional eight hours everyday for five days.

On the other hand, employees who work a five-day week schedule can work hours other than the standard 9 am - 5 pm. Here, the employer usually sets specified limits. For example, you can work from 10 am to 4 pm, while the rest of the working hours is flextime.

Who needs flextime?

Employees who are raising a family definitely need flextime work. This way, they will have more time tending to the needs of their children and other family matters. Employees taking graduate studies also need a flexible work schedule. This will give them enough time to focus on their studies.

Who benefits?

Flextime work arrangement benefits the employees. One obvious benefit is that they are able to fit in their working day around daycare for their children. It also gives them more time to relax and spend more time with other members of the family. In addition, flextime work reduces stress level.

Flexible work schedule also benefits the employers. Many studies have shown that this arrangement improves the performance of the employees, which translates into improved organizational performance. It also improves employee productivity. Another benefit is the reduction of overhead costs. Under flextime, employees can share desk space and computers as long as there is no overlap of schedules.

The environment also benefits from flextime. Since many employees commute four days every week, instead of five days, there are fewer cars are on the road. This means less traffic congestion and less air pollution.

How to convince your boss?

So you really need a flexible work schedule. The next step is to convince your employee that you need such arrangement. You must first talk with your co-workers and come up with a plan. A rotating schedule that will allow everyone to have an occasional long weekend is recommended. This will assure your boss that the office will not become a ghost town on Fridays and Mondays.

Moreover, since your boss will not want everyone arriving work late or leaving early, make a schedule that allows the workplace to be manned throughout the day. Present your plan to your boss and explain how will it benefit the employees as well as the company.