Flexible Work Schedules Can Improve Employee Morale

Have you ever considered offering flexible hours to your employees? If you're looking for a way to boost employee morale, this might be the perfect solution. Your team is filled with business rock stars with amazing amounts of talent. You just have to find the right way to inspire them.

Can you imagine requiring actual rock stars to work a 9-5 shift? They'd be cranky, uncreative, and possibly hungover.

A flexible work schedule doesn't lend itself to every industry or working environment, however, the more freedom you give your employees, the happier and more productive they will be.

Rethink the 9-5

When you give employees the opportunity to pick their own schedule, you'll see a world of benefits for your team and for your company as a whole.

Benefits for Employees

Improved commute - When employees choose their own hours, they can avoid rush hour traffic and spend less time commuting to and from work. This lessens the chances that employees will be irritated and stressed the moment they walk in the door.

More time with family - Parents and caretakers of any sort appreciate the ability to visit doctors, drive kids to activities, or be involved with school projects during "working hours." They're are often happy to make up those hours elsewhere and even willing to stay a bit late to get a job done.

Reduced childcare costs - Often times, the salary of one parent in a two-paycheck household, goes to daycare or babysitting costs. Offering a flexible schedule allows parents to stagger their work hours so they don't have to rely on anyone outside of the immediate family to watch the kids and shuttle them off to extracurriculars.

Better work and better productivity - Let's face it, we aren't all morning people. Everyone's natural schedule is different, so why penalize an employee for being a night owl? Allow your team members to work whenever they are the freshest and you'll see better performance.

Benefits to the Department/Company

Increased employee morale - employees that have the freedom to choose their own schedule, feel more appreciated and more inspired to produce rock star caliber results.

Reduced sick days and late arrivals - When an employee doesn't have to take time off to accomplish personal or family tasks, they are less likely to call in sick or be late for their expected shift. You'll still get the same amount of time (and more productivity) from them, however, they will be happier and more focused while at work.

Increased favorability in the community - Being considered an "employee-centric" and "family friendly" company will create a positive brand for your business. This will make it easier to recruit quality employees and will make more customers want to do business with you.

Reduce turnover - Hiring and training a new employee costs the company unnecessary money.  Why not just keep your rock star employees by ensuring that they are happy, feel appreciated, and have job satisfaction?

Telecommuting

If your employees are interested, consider offering them a work-from-home option a few days a week. Often times, employees will enjoy skipping the commute (and saving money in the process), working in their pajamas, and having peace and quiet to focus on their work rather than being in the center of a bustling office.

Marvelless Mark® advises his clients that whether you choose to offer a flexible schedule or a flexible working environment, communication is key. Let employees know what is expected of them. This can include:

• What projects need to be completed and by when.
• How many hours they are expected to clock in on the job.
• If there are certain meetings or activities that they must be physically present for and when they'll be held.
• What deliverables or check-ins must be done to ensure that projects are moving along properly.

Your employees have lives outside of the office. When you allow them to be creative with their time and environment, they'll often go the extra mile to support and further your business.

"Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans." John Lennon

Mark Kamp® aka Marvelless Mark® works with organizations who want their teams to achieve immediate rock star results. A Keynote Speaker/Entertainer/Author, Husband, Father, and child of God, his primary message, “Opportunity Rocks®” gives attendees a fresh new perspective on Sales, Marketing, and Employee Performance. Fun and engaging, Mark combines the success secrets of your favorite rock stars with just the right amount of entertainment to transform your employees into business rockstars. Learn more at www.OpportunityRocks.net.