In 2024, employees want a flexible workplace that offers more freedom. It is worthwhile for companies to take these needs seriously and offer more than just traditional full-time and part-time models.

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Modern working time models are crucial for reconciling work and private life and have a variety of advantages for both companies and employees that are adapted to the needs of the modern working world.

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Here you can find out more about various working time models, examples of successful concepts, and tools for smoothly integrating these models into everyday working life.

Why do different types of work schedules exist?

It's simple: Everyone has different needs and living conditions. In this day and age, it is therefore particularly important not only to use traditional working time models such as full-time work and part-time work but also flexible work schedules.

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Different job schedules enable team members to better adapt their work to their lives. When work and private life can be better reconciled, this reduces everyday stress. Different types of work schedules also promote motivation and productivity because employees work in an environment that takes their individual needs into account.

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However, the freedom to arrange their working hours in the way that best suits them has advantages not only for employees. Companies also benefit from modern working time models, because when your teams feel that their needs are being taken seriously, this leads to higher satisfaction and thus also stronger ties with the employer and lower turnover.

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Regardless of which job schedules you work with — it is important that your company has a reliable working time account , which documents overtime and minus hours so that they can be compensated over a longer period of time.

What employee work schedules are there?

Nowadays, many companies have recognized that it is an advantage to offer different employee work schedules. But not every model can be implemented in every sector. The following overview of modern working time models gives you an idea of which options could be suitable for your company:

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Types of work schedules

Full-time work

Full-time work is the classic and most widely used working time model, in which employees generally work five days a week. This model offers financial stability and a clear structure in everyday life. In contrast to some other working time models, full-time employees also have access to comprehensive benefits and other company benefits, such as paid vacation.

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A relatively new working time model is the so-called job sharing, which is still in its infancy in most countries. Two employees share a full-time position, which is particularly interesting for parents or people with other time-consuming obligations.

Shift Work

Shift work is common practice in many industries. The work is divided into different periods of time. These day, night and weekend shifts make it possible to cover the service around the clock, for example in healthcare or in production.

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A major advantage of shift work is the ability to choose shifts that are better suited to the employees' lifestyles. For example, they can spend time with their family during the day and work at night. In addition, shift work is often associated with financial incentives, such as higher hourly wages for night and weekend shifts.

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However, there are also working time models that are similar to shift work but follow a different concept, such as on-call service. Employees do not necessarily have to work on weekends or at night, for example, but must be available on call — a classic example of this is the locksmith.

Mini Jobs

A mini job is a minor job in which employees can earn up to 538 euros a month (at least in Germany) without paying social security contributions. The working time is a maximum of 43 hours per month, i.e. a good 10 hours per week. This makes this working time model ideal for students, retirees or people who are looking for additional income without having to work a full week.

Midi Jobs

The midi job is a modern working time model that lies between a mini job and a full-time position. The income limit for a midi job is currently 2,000 euros a month in Germany— i.e. a balanced combination of financial security and greater flexibility. For people who want to earn more than doing a mini-job but don't necessarily want to make the commitments of a full-time job, the midi job could be just the right solution.

Flexible work schedules

In today's working world, borders and traditions are being broken down more and more. The workers' need for more flexibility and self-determination has led to a variety of new working time models:

Part time

Of course, part-time is not an innovative working time model — but the motivation of part-time workers has changed in recent years. More and more people are looking for a better work-life balance, which is undoubtedly associated with fewer working hours. If your employees work less than 37 hours a week, this is already part time work.

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Many companies are now using the model for full and part-time jobs flexitime, In which employees can flexibly arrange their working hours within a specific framework.

Telework

Teleworking, also known as WFH, allows your team to work from home or anywhere else away from the office. With this model, employees benefit from enormous flexibility, as they can design their own work environment.

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This working time model also reduces long commuting times and guarantees an optimal work-life balance. In times of digitization and the use of modern communication technologies, teleworking has become an increasingly popular option.

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The work does not necessarily always have to be carried out 100% remotely. Hybrid working models, where some employees are in the office but also have the opportunity to work from home, are becoming increasingly popular.

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In a flexible working environment, the physical workplace also plays a decisive role. For hybrid working time models to work smoothly, it is worthwhile working in a company with a desk sharing tool.

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Flexopus helps you to use your office space efficiently and make it flexible. With Flexopus, your employees can book their workplaces as required, which is particularly advantageous in combination with flexible hybrid working time models. With Flexopus, you always have an overview of which team members are currently in the office and which desks, meeting rooms, or parking spaces are free for the next few days/weeks.

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Therefore, desk sharing platforms optimize office utilization while at the same time encourage team collaboration and communication and thus contribute to improving the work-life balance.

Team-oriented working time

Team-oriented working time means that your team plans working hours together to complete projects efficiently. This modern working time model focuses on the collaboration of your employees, as working hours can be adapted to the needs of the current project and the availability of team members.

Other flexible work schedules

However, there are also other flexible working models, such as annual working time. Working hours are not set per week, but per year. This is particularly useful for seasonal jobs where there is a lot to do in summer and barely require hours in winter.

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More and more employers are using small teams in particular trust-based working time, in which fixed working hours are dispensed with — in the confidence that employees will perform their tasks on time and independently. Even then, desk sharing platforms such as Flexopus are suitable for getting a better overview of space utilization in the office.

Summary

It is undisputed that modern working time models have numerous advantages — both for companies and for their employees. This allows you to better meet the needs of your employees and thus build satisfied, committed teams. This not only leads to higher productivity, but also to fewer absences and lower fluctuation.

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Offering different types of work schedules is therefore a win-win situation, because they guarantee the flexibility that your employees need to do their best. And to create a productive and clear working environment even with modern working time models, desk sharing solutions such as Flexopus can help.