Alternative work arrangements, which are any pattern followed in the arrangement of the agenda that differs from the traditional pattern of the five days of the week, from nine in the morning until five in the evening, for example, Alternative work arrangements can allow employees to decide when and where they will work. This may mean allowing employees to change their schedules or allowing them to work from home on certain days of the week.
Flexibility is the basic idea on which the concept of alternative work arrangements is built. As employees are given some control over their work schedules, it becomes easier for them to balance their personal responsibilities with their interest in their work. The business logic behind this concept is that the more easily an employee deals with stressors in the family and at home, the more productive he is on the job, and the less likely he is to leave the company if a competitor offers him a higher salary, for example.
Types of alternative work arrangements
Alternative work arrangements can be grouped into the following categories:
- Flextime: Any arrangement that gives an employee options regarding the organization of the workday or workweek However, an employee working under a flexible time arrangement is usually expected to be on duty during certain core hours of the working day. He is given the opportunity to choose the start and departure times according to specific criteria, as long as he works within the required number of hours per day.
- Compressed work week: where the employee works the usual number of hours per week but fewer than five days per week. The most famous arrangement within this category is called “4/10,” in which the employee works 10 hours a day, four days a week, instead of 8 hours a day, five days a week.
- Job-sharing: Two part-time employees share the work of a full-time job. Salaries and privileges are divided according to the share of work accomplished by each of them. This type of alternate arrangement assumes that the two employees will be able to work together smoothly and harmoniously.
- Telecommuting: It is any arrangement according to which the employee works from home or from any place outside the company’s headquarters, whether for the entire work week or only part of it, based on a prior agreement with the management.
- Permanent part-time work arrangements: Working hours in this category range from 20 to 29 hours per week, with the right given to the employee sometimes to specify the days in which he will work and the number of working hours on these days. The main advantage of this arrangement is that the employee can obtain company privileges on a scale proportionate to the size of his work.
Benefits of alternative work arrangements
- The employee was able to complete his work from anywhere. If the company accepts alternative arrangements for work, then it will be able to select qualified employees from any country in the world. Its options will not be limited to specific areas near the company’s headquarters, nor will employees be able to work full-time there.
- High employee retention rates. If the company realizes the complexity of life these days and helps the employee accomplish his work while taking charge of his life matters easily, then the chances of him staying there will increase.
- Research shows that employees who work remotely are less likely to be interrupted by colleagues and therefore more productive than employees who work in an office.
- Enhancing confidence between the company and the employees. When the employee feels the company’s confidence in him and it allows him flexibility in performing his work, he will meet that confidence by exerting his utmost efforts and providing the best possible performance.
- Saving office costs due to the remote work of employees.
Disadvantages of alternative work arrangements
- Need more time to plan.
- Slow workflow due to employees entering and leaving at different times.
- Extra shifts or days can cost small business owners even more money.
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