How to Offer Flexible Work Schedules to Your IT Employees
Posted September 6th, 2019
Many IT employees jump at the opportunity to have a flexible work schedule. However, some are also resistant to the idea, fearing that a lack of consistency could make team projects more challenging or that it will hinder communication between colleagues. As a result, employers often have to be conscientious when implementing flexible arrangement, making sure that everyone understands the value of these schedules and is prepared to ensure full productivity.
If you are trying to figure out how to offer flexible work schedules to your IT employees, here are some steps to follow.
Be Transparent
Before you implement flexible work schedules for your IT employees, you need to have open and honest discussions about how the program will work and its potential impacts. Let your team know why this approach is beneficial, both for them and the company. Then, listen to their concerns and address them accordingly.
Additionally, gather insight regarding anything that you may need to provide to ensure their needs are handled. This could include anything from VPN to collaboration software, depending on the nature of the team’s work and the level of required communication.
Make It Universally Available
Nothing will breed resentment like only making flexible schedules available to a select few. When that occurs, it creates an unhealthy dynamic, separating the employees into haves and have-nots.
The goal should be to create a fair flexible schedule arrangement. Precisely what shape that will take depends on your organization, but it needs to be a consideration before you allow these scheduling adjustments to occur.
Create Guidelines for Work Hours
Flexible schedules can take a variety of forms. In some cases, companies allow employees to work at any time that suits them, focusing more on outputs than when the tasks are handled. Other businesses limit the amount of flexibility that is available, such as by mandating that all workers be available during predefined core working hours.
Both approaches are viable. However, it is wise to create a policy that states what is and what isn’t permitted. Additionally, gathering input regarding the potential impact of certain employees handling assignments during non-standard hours is also wise, so those concerns can be addressed in advance.
Celebrate Flex Schedule Success
Once you implement flexible scheduling options, keep track of any improvements that occur. This can include anything from the quality of the outputs to better work-life balance for an employee. Then, make sure to celebrate any of these successes when the opportunity arises.
By recognizing flexible schedule success, you can showcase the effectiveness of the program. Any employees who were resistant to the change can then see the benefits more clearly, which may make them feel better about the adjustment. Also, it allows the company to monitor performance after the change, ensuring that the results meet or exceed expectations.
Ultimately, introducing flexible schedules can be a challenging but worthwhile venture, as long as it is handled appropriately. If you would like to know more about integrating these arrangements into your workplace, the team at Bayside Solutions can help. Contact us to speak with one of our knowledgeable staff members today and see how our flexible scheduling expertise can benefit you.
