A flexible work schedule is an arrangement that allows employees to work outside of the traditional 9-to-5 workday or workweek. This can include flextime, telecommuting, part-time work, job sharing or other variations.
Flextime refers to a work schedule that allows employees to vary their start and end times within a set range of hours, while telecommuting allows employees to work from home or other locations outside of the office. Part-time work involves working fewer hours than a standard working week, while job sharing allows two employees to share a single full-time position.
Flexible working hours can offer numerous benefits for both employees and employers. It can help employees achieve a better work-life balance, reduce stress and burnout, and increase job satisfaction. For employers, it can increase productivity, reduce absenteeism and attract and retain top talent.
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of flexible working hours, as remote working and other flexible arrangements have become more prevalent and necessary to maintain business operations.
Flexible working hours can be a flexible working policy that an employer sets for employees. A flexible work schedule is an alternative to the more common 9-to-5, 40-hour workweek that most employees are familiar with. Since each person works differently, it’s not always necessary for someone to come into the office for 8 hours a day. Each organization may vary based on the needs of how flexible work hours are created.
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