Flexible working hours trend shift

Hendri Augustine Sugiarto -
“Flexible Working Hours Is An Option That Can Be A Solution”

Flexible working time is a thing of the present. More and more small business/startup allows employees to work anywhere (home, cafes, or even when they’re commuting) as opposed to enforcing them to be on site. Modern technology and the internet is the leading cause that enables the employee to work and assure the employer to get the job done without the need to physically present.

But the real question is, is flexible working hours helps employees’ productivity? Does providing flexible working hours and place to an employee give a positive effect on performance? Or is it just an excuse that does not affect either productivity and performance?

Study shows that 75% of Germany workforce population no longer has a regular work schedule, and more than half of the working population have some flexible components in their work schedules (e.g., time and place). In the employee's point of view, it becomes more relevant to have a work-life balance because of a broader individualization of lifestyles. By this reason, an employer should reconsider the interests of employees, in an attempt to optimize the use of human capital to produce productivity.

Why would it makes sense

Flexible working hours can be implemented not just on a remote team but also possible on the internal team. A study by Kattenbach Ralph; Demerouti, Evangelia and Nachreiner, Friedhelm on “Flexible Working Times: Effects on Employees’ Exhaustion, Work-Nonwork Conflict, and Job Performance” shows that time autonomy should positively influence performance. It is because everyone has a different few hours per day when they work at an optimal level, and this time varies from person to person depending on the individual biological rhythm. As long as there is a clear target, goals, and result that the small business/startup want to achieve and is share throughout the whole team; internal and remote team, it is possible to conduct a flexible working hour.

In Indonesia, Hanif Dahakiri; Manpower Minister, is stating that the ministry is planning to issue a regulation that will make it possible for women to work more flexible hours due to the low rate of participation rate of women in the labour force as of August 2018. He believes that flexible working hours will also help businesses keep up with the rapid industrial changes.

“A new regulation with more flexible working hours was also needed to accommodate technological developments.” — HANIF; THE MANPOWER MINISTRY OF INDONESIA

The Advantages & Disadvantages of Flexible Working Hours

The trend has shifted, whether you’re an employer or an employee. The way you hire and work will automatically shift to a more flexible working hours. But still, flexible working hour can have its own advantages and disadvantages for both the employer and employee.

Advantages for Employer

  1. Creates better employee morale and engagement.
  2. Reduced absenteeism.
  3. Reduced turnover of valued staff.
  4. Develop a work-life balance image as a small business/startup.

Disadvantages for Employer

  1. Office-oriented people usually see flexible working time people as a slacker.
  2. Without any fix work hours, clients will often find it hard to work with you.
  3. Some employees may not work efficiently without any supervision.

Advantages for Employee

  1. Being able to adjust the work-life balance to their suits.
  2. Reduce unnecessary expenses, such as commuting cost and time.
  3. The ability to always work at their own optimal time.
  4. Flexibility to do their personal needs.

Disadvantages for Employee:

  1. Communication between the team won’t be as efficient as meeting up.
  2. No clear lines between home and work.
  3. Employees may find it challenging to work when colleagues don’t hold the same schedule.

There are still some more arguable pros and cons on whether flexible working hours is a good or bad thing. Research and studies have shown that the advantages for the employer and employee outweigh the disadvantages, and it is the job of a small business/startup leader to handle the difficulties. It doesn’t matter what kind of management or working style, a small business/startup choose. After all, there is no such thing as two same small business/startup; a small business/startup leader should decide what’s best for the company by reflecting their needs, target, and goals.

Conclusion

Like it or not, flexible working hours are here and serve as an option. And, as the shift turns, the needs and the way things work will also turn. Once again, flexible working hours can’t be the answer to all the small business/startups problems for productivity; nothing is. Flexible working hours is one of the ways that are designed to introduce a new and better strategy within the small business/startups for the sake of employee productivity.

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References :

https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2019/01/12/indonesia-plans-more-flexible-working-hours-for-women.html

https://search.proquest.com/docview/521097004/B2C4981C25A14FD6PQ/4?accountid=44931