Flexibility in the workplace can improve the way your workplace operates and can help you retain good staff. Flexibility allows you to work with your employees to decide hours of work, work location and the way work is carried out. It involves thinking creatively about how working lives can be better structured to match individual and business needs.
The following guide provides step by step information on developing flexibility in the workplace:
Creating a flexible workplace is good for business and has a number of advantages:
- improves your ability to attract skilled and motivated employees
- provides recognition for you as an 'employer of choice' with a competitive edge in recruiting
- reduces absenteeism and staff turnover
- creates greater staff loyalty and higher return on training investment
- increases trust and respect
- reduces stress levels and improved morale and commitment
- provides a better match between peaks and troughs in workloads and staffing
- increases management skills and finding creative ways to work
- improves productivity
- creates the potential for improved occupational health and safety records
- assists compliance with anti-discrimination and workplace relations laws.
With the ageing of the population and changing labour market conditions, adopting a flexible approach to work will assist in attracting a diverse workforce including people with disability.
Last updated: 05-07-2012