Must employers allow employees flexible schedules?
When it comes to employee benefits, people of all ages value flexibility most, according to a recent study by Mercer Marsh Benefits. Flexibility can involve alternatives to the traditional 9-to-5, 40-hour work schedules, like four-day work weeks or allowing employees to vary their arrival and/or departure times. This remains important even as many companies try to entice (or require) employees back into the office.
Is it required?
The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which governs employee wages and hours, does not address flexible work schedules. Alternative work arrangements, such as flexible work schedules, are a matter of agreement between the employer and the employee (or the employee's representative).
Under some company policies, for example, employees must work a prescribed number of hours per pay period and be present during a daily "core time."
Employers may even change an employee's work hours without giving prior notice or obtaining the employee's consent, unless prohibited under state law.
Not required, but might be beneficial
Even if employers don’t have to allow flexible scheduling, doing so can have benefits, such as:
- Attracting talent,
- Retaining valuable employees,
- Improving employees’ work-life balance,
- Increasing productivity, and
- Reducing absenteeism.
Most employees want to perform well at their jobs and also have a life outside of work. Personal responsibilities, like family needs and self-care, often take a back seat to work demands. This can lead to employee burnout.
Communicate expectations
If employers allow flexibility, they must let employees know what to expect. They should communicate any boundaries and requirements before allowing employees to have flexible schedules. Employees need to know:
- The number of hours they have to work each day or week,
- When they must be on-site,
- How often must they check with their managers, and
- Any potential repercussions for not meeting expectations.
Flexible scheduling isn’t for all companies or industries. For those in which job flexibility is possible, it might help improve the company’s overall performance.
Key to remember: Most employees value the ability to set their own working schedules to some degree when possible.