Can a Flexible Work Environment Work in All Job Sectors?

Competitive salary, paid time off, comprehensive benefits. You’d expect to see these on a prospective employee’s wish list. But according to a 2016 study by FlexJobs, working parents rank flexibility at the top of the list, and it’s not surprising.

As millennials take over the workforce — with their like-minded Gen Z successors not far behind them — the demand for flexible work environments that allow improved work-life balance continues to grow. If done well, offering a flexible work environment can benefit everyone. Companies that allow for job flexibility can expect employees to be more productive, get reports of higher employee job satisfaction, and see lower turnover rates.

Organizations are catching on and offering employees flexible scheduling, opportunities to work remotely, and even unlimited paid time off. As the traditional 9-to-5 workday disappears, though, HR managers are asking an important question: Can flexible work environments succeed in all job sectors?

The short answer: yes, but it will look different for each industry. For example, creative industries and corporate offices have the most breadth for flexibility. Technology allows team members to work remotely, hold meetings around the globe, and even give employees the ability to customize work schedules to their preference.

For other industries that rely on employees to be on-site, like production and food service, it’s a little more complicated. While companies within these industries might not be able to allow employees to work remotely, they can still offer some variation of flexibility to appease the rising workforce and promote employee job satisfaction.

According to Work Flexibility, companies in just about every sector can offer employees flexibility in one or more of the following ways:

• Compressed work week
• Flexible hours
• Shift swaps
• Banking time
• Extra vacation
• Reduced hours
• Job sharing

. . .

Finding the right mix of flexible work benefits can take time, but is well worth the investment. Once viewed as a workplace trend, flexibility is becoming an expected staple. Is your company prepared for the reimagined workday?