Not only is March the month we spring forward into daylight saving time, it is also time for employers to spring forward into a flexible mindset when it comes to attracting and retaining their most valuable employees.
Millions of workers now expect workplace flexibility. The traditional five-day-office-based work model is rapidly becoming a thing of the past. Employers who fail to embrace flexibility risk being left behind. During the past few years many organizations have been forced to adapt to remote work and flexible schedules. However, even before the pandemic, the benefits of flexibility were becoming increasingly clear.
Many employees are now prioritizing work-life balance over salary. Flexible working arrangements are highly valued by many. By offering flexible work options employers can make themselves more attractive to top candidates and reduce turnover rates. Numerous studies have shown that, where possible, flexible work arrangements can increase employee productivity. Additionally, allowing employees to work flexible schedules can help them avoid burnout, leading to increased productivity and better work quality.
Organizations that embrace workplace flexibility demonstrate a willingness to adapt to change particularly when it comes to how and where work gets done. Managers who are flexible provide their employees with greater freedom in the way they accomplish goals. They don’t look at employees as a group but rather as individual human beings. Providing ways to balance the unique needs of each team member so that the requirements of the job duties, the tangible rewards, and the respect each person receives in return creates a powerful and unified team.
The ONE SIZE FITS ALL approach is about as old as the hit song 9 to 5. Wake up leaders! Time to reset the clocks and spring ahead into a new season of FLEXIBILITY.
Dr. Merrylue Martin is President and CEO of the Job Joy Group and best-selling author of the Big Quit Survival Guide. To learn more, visit www.JobJoyGroup.com
