As the modern workplace continues to evolve, flexibility has become more important than ever. Gone are the days of a rigid working schedule – today’s workforce requires a more adaptable approach.
The rise of desk sharing has shown excellent results for many businesses, with employers reporting happier, more positive and more efficient workforces. While desk sharing has proven to be successful, there are other, often overlooked ways of bringing flexibility to the workplace. Here are four examples:
A Bring Your Own Device Policy
Extremely simple and cost-effective, implementing a bring your own device policy can help to bring personal flexibility to the workforce. Allowing employees to use their own smart phones, tablets or laptops means that individuals can work in their preferred way, which usually has a positive outcome. Not having to lug a company laptop back and forth between home and office is also a bonus!
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Open (and Flexible) Spaces
While the booking process for meeting rooms or shared desks keeps things in check, allowing employees the room to hold spontaneous and informal meetings can help foster innovation and creativity. Ensuring some of these areas are equipped with technology can help even more – being able to access a TV monitor at a moment’s notice, rather than having to book a meeting room, can avoid any delays in the creative process.
Flexible Working Hours
Allowing employees the ability to adjust their working hours to suit individual lifestyles (within limits) can only have a positive outcome on work flow and efficiency. While a flexible hours strategy may be harder to implement than other flexible working policies, the benefits may outweigh the initial effort.
Helpful On-site Services
With a similar outcome to the idea of flexible working hours, introducing helpful everyday services on-site, such as gyms, pharmacies and health & beauty professionals, could be helpful to boosting the positivity and wellness of employees.
Smaller businesses may not manage to bring these sorts of services on-site, so should instead consider deals with local outlets and businesses – think discounts, priority appointments or extended opening hours for your employees, just to help make life a bit easier for them.