When it comes to work hours and workspace, chances are good that we are never going back to the “good ole days” of 2019. Flexible scheduling is no longer a “nice to have,” it’s an expectation. It’s essential that business leaders figure out how to adjust scheduling practices to keep up with employee expectations.
For the most part, employees who have gotten used to working from home are not going to be crazy about going back to the same structured work schedule that they had before the pandemic. Company leaders have also now discovered that tasks that were strictly supposed to be done “in-house” could be successfully completed offsite.
So how do you adapt a more flexible scheduling model? Here are three strategies to help:
Establish a basic framework. Start with a schedule that will accommodate the minimal, or essential, shift coverage. As customer demand climbs, you can always make additional shifts available. You may want to implement core hours where everyone needs to be there but allow flexibility for the rest of the time.
Give early notice. Put out the schedule at least a week in advance, so employees can see what shifts are available. Communicate in real-time, or as close to real-time as possible and offer several response options – text, email, app, etc. It’s all about communication. As long as you keep the flow of information going, you can cover all the shifts needed.
Let employees choose. Instead of assigning shifts, let your employees select the shifts they want. Let them request specific shifts or swap shifts when needed. When you give employees ownership of their schedule, you’ll create a more engaged team. Chances are good that you’ll also see fewer no-shows. You may also look at job sharing or part-time work to help fill in the gaps.
Not only does flexible self-scheduling give employees more autonomy in their day, but it also enables supervisors to effectively manage their team members with a minimum amount of grumbling and complaining.
Using flexibility in your scheduling can set your business apart from the competition, increase employee engagement and make your workplace much less stressful.
Ways to Make Flexible Scheduling Work for You
