Flexible Work Hours, Even for Hourly Employees

Summary

This article discusses how flexible work schedules can benefit a business, not only for upper management but for hourly employees as well. Businesses are providing more flexible work hours for all employees because research shows that if employees are happy they are more productive and customers are happy. Several big businesses have proved this theory to be successful. Some corporations who have allowed more flexible schedules are Marriott, Procter and Gamble, and PNC Financial. Offering this as a perk will help companies get more qualified employees and retain their best performers. By realizing that all employees have real life conflicts and by allowing them to go to school and work or raise a family and work they will keep employees who like working for them. Allowing flexible schedules has also shown an increase in productivity. Best Buy, British Telecom, and Dow Chemicals have all shown that their teleworkers are 35 to 40 percent more productive than the office workers who do the same job. Teleworkers working from home are able to be flexible in their hours and environment and therefore can get more work done.

Reflection

I really liked this article. Being a full time student it is hard to find a company that is willing to work with your schedule. I think if more businesses started promoting flexible schedules they would get employees to be more willing to work. Personally, if I have to be at work at 7 am I’m not going to be as friendly or productive as I would be at 10 or 11 am. If an employer would allow me to come in at a time I preferred and just stay a little later I would be happier and therefore probably better at my job. I also think this trend of working from home is so great. It allows people to still have a career and raise a family. I think people who work from home probably enjoy their job more than if they were sitting in an office and can definitely do the same work. Overall I absolutely agree that more businesses should offer flexible schedules for all employees. It has clearly proven to be beneficial to the employees as well as to the business.

Harnish, Tom. "Flexible Work Hours, Even for Hourly Employees." ehotelier.com http://ehotelier.com/hospitality-news/item.php?id=A20608_0_11_0_M