Flexibility at work is an essential factor for growth in any organization. It’s also beneficial for everyone involved to work when they’re at their best. This improves productivity, which is essential for the success of any business. We’ll talk more about why flexibility at work is so important and how you can transition your business to make space for it.

Why is a Lack of Flexibility at Work Bad?

Without flexibility at work, there’s a risk that you won’t be able to adapt to changes, and it’s much harder to acclimatise to new situations. So, why is a lack of flexibility at work bad? Business is constantly changing, and unexpected obstacles can arise. When there’s no flexibility in the workplace, people are less able to move with the times and deal with unpredictable events.

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When there is a lack of flexibility at work, it’s harder for employees to enjoy a healthy work-life balance, which can affect their mental well-being. This can lead to a lack of job satisfaction and productivity, which are key components to running a successful business. If you feel that a company you work for doesn’t have this style of work model, you might be wondering how to ask for flexibility at work.

How to Ask for Flexibility at Work

If you feel that a more flexible working environment would be beneficial, you may be wondering how best to address this issue and request flexibility. A good first step is to be proactive in finding solutions. Start by highlighting the challenges created by a rigid working model and suggest concrete ways to overcome them.‍There are numerous technical tools that can support flexible working. In many organisations, face-to-face interaction is important, but thanks to modern technology, this is also possible without being physically in the same place. Flexible working should not be seen as an obstacle, but as an opportunity to improve working conditions for everyone and increase efficiency.

How to Improve Flexibility at Work

To move into a flexible work environment, you must first change your mindset while also preparing the proper channels to ensure success. It’s going to require communication and patience as you upgrade to creating more flexibility at work. Take time to talk to your team and let them know what you’re doing and what resources you’ll implement for a smooth transition. Here is how to improve flexibility at work:

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• Be open-minded.
• Maintain optimism throughout the process.
• Focus on your core values.
• Implement helpful tools designed for flexible work environments, like Flexopus.
• Plan ahead.

Flexibility at Work Examples

There are many tools and resources to help you transition to a flexible workplace. With a more flexible workplace, how people work is less rigid. Employees can work from home sometimes or come to the office when needed. Having a more flexible work model allows employees to work hard while maintaining other aspects of their lives.

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Here are some flexibility at work examples:

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Remote Working

Telecommuting became more common during the pandemic, with businesses experiencing the many benefits of remote working. With a remote or hybrid work arrangement, employees can do their work when they’re at their most productive. Employees work outside of the office, which reduces the need for office space and reduces expenses in general.

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While some employees are early risers and get their best work done in the morning, some may be more productive in the evening. The work-life balance that exists with remote working leads to greater job satisfaction in many cases. People are able to work from home, in co-working spaces, or anywhere there is an internet connection.

Compressed Work Week and Flexible Hours

A compressed working week or flexible working hours offer employees the opportunity to work when they are most productive. For example, they can put in extra hours for upcoming major projects instead of being strictly limited to a four-day week.‍Employees feel more self-determined as they can plan their own time and actively organise their lives. For employers, this means stronger employee loyalty to the company and a reduction in overheads at the same time.

A More Flexible Work Schedule

By creating a flexible schedule, your employees can choose when to arrive at work and when to leave. You can let them know how many hours they need to work while giving them the freedom to choose their own hours. Benefits include:

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• Stress reduction.
• Greater productivity.
• Adapting to the needs of employees and their life schedules.
• A positive impact on employee satisfaction.

Team Meetings Done Remotely

For work environments that require employees to work together as a team, there’s still a way to maintain flexibility. It will take some thought regarding how to schedule meetings and create workflow in projects. There may need to be days where employees are working certain hours so they can all come together.

You’ll want to have a calendar that gives team members a clear understanding of when they’ll be needed. Scheduling bursts can provide clarity if there are members who are working on many different projects. Make sure to use an advanced scheduling tool for the purpose of clarity. There’s the potential of bringing people together with desk sharing tools so hybrid workers can stay at home while working within a team.

Information Sharing in Flexible Work Environments

With more flexibility at work, you may have employees in different places at different times. This is why it’s important to upgrade communication channels and workplace management. Once you’ve implemented the new practices of staying in touch and getting together, make sure they’re being used and update them. Some things to consider include:

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• Regular updates.
• Offer a means to come together with a meeting scheduler.
• Provide access to in-progress work.
• Instill relevant progress management tools.

Hybrid Work and Desk Sharing

Hybrid working and desk sharing promote flexibility in the workplace by giving employees the freedom to work both from home and in the office, depending on their individual needs and the nature of their tasks. Desk sharing allows office workstations to be utilised more efficiently, as employees do not need fixed desks but can flexibly book workstations as required. ‍

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This flexibility makes it possible to bring teams together dynamically without enforcing physical proximity, which promotes collaboration while supporting personal preferences and work-life balance. In addition, resources are optimised as less physical office space is required, which also benefits companies.

Flexopus: The desk sharing solution for more flexibility in the workplace

The fact is: without simple and reliable desk sharing software like Flexopus, employee satisfaction with flexible working can decrease. The easier and more seamlessly a desk sharing tool can be integrated, the better. For this very reason, Flexopus was even honoured with the German Design Award 2024 and puts a variety of tools in the hands of both employees and managers to make workflows in hybrid offices as fluid as possible.‍

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That's why it's important to listen to your employees' needs, not ignore them and make flexibility a gain rather than a loss for your workforce. Because if everyone enjoys what increased flexible working environments bring, the added value is enormous.

Can flexibility in the workplace improve employee retention?

Yes, it can. There are a lot of benefits when it comes to switching to a flexibility at work model. Employees are able to work during times they are most productive. They are also more satisfied in general due to a better work-life balance. This helps to retain the valuable employees you have while increasing their productivity. Flexible work schedules allow for better adaptivity when there are changes. To transition to a more modern way of working, you’ll need to implement resources to help you.