Emma Jane-Truter
8am to 5pm workdays. In office. Clock in, clock out. No time to attend to personal matters. Sound familiar? Of course it does.
This was the way of the world until just a few years ago, when a pandemic helped all of us to see that there is, in fact, another way to operate in the world of work.
Since the advent of COVID-19, the workplace has been in a state of flux. Work from home, back to the office, the Great Resignation and Quiet Quitting are just a few of the things we’ve endured in a very short space of time.
However, one thing has remained in stark focus, and that is the importance of workplace flexibility in the ever-evolving world of work.
During the pandemic years, people experienced a level of professional autonomy that they hadn’t felt before.
Through this, they were able to map out their own workdays, make time for family and friends, and finally achieve a level of work-life balance that wasn’t previously possible.
Many businesses in South Africa saw the positive changes in their staff as a result of a better work-life balance and made flexible arrangements permanent, offering staff the ability to observe hybrid work models and choose more agile work hours.
Other businesses, however, have made the decision to go back to the old in-office, 8am to 5pm, 'bums on seats' way of working, citing office culture and productivity as the main reasons.
All businesses, big and small, should shake free of their old ways and make flexible structures the new normal. The benefits for both employee and employer are immense.
Less stress, more happiness
When employees are given the opportunity to choose their work hours and work from home a few days a week, they can much better manage the taxing nature of daily commuting.
They can also spend more time with their children by picking them up from school and being present during homework time. They can see friends at a Padel game, do grocery shopping out of peak times, and finally get to that dentist appointment which would normally have been reserved for a Saturday.
Allowing people to devote more time to their personal lives without the stress of rushing back to the office has a very positive effect on their mental health.
When we empower our employees to care for themselves, they automatically find a renewed sense of joy and determination in life, and as importantly, at work.
Happy people make happy workplaces. Positive company culture isn’t damaged by flexible working days and hours; it’s improved.
When people are empowered to maintain a healthy work-life balance, they are more willing to share thoughts, get involved with company initiatives, and promote positive talk at work.
Better productivity and more innovative thinking
Giving employees flexibility acts as a vote of confidence. It indicates that you have faith in their abilities, their decision-making capabilities, and above all, it shows that you believe they are competent enough to manage their own time and to-do lists.
When you believe in your employees, they automatically feel more valued, and with a sense of value, people become more confident and are not only more likely to be highly productive but actually do their best work too.
It’s been proven time and again that people can only do their best or most innovative thinking when they can truly focus on the task at hand. Focus comes much easier when an employee feels trusted and appreciated and doesn’t have to worry about whether their boss thinks they aren’t capable enough or doesn’t trust them to work alone.
Keep and attract the best people
After getting a taste of a healthy work-life balance during the Covid years, many people are refusing to settle for anything less than a flexible workplace structure.
Flexibility remains one of the fastest-growing priorities for young job seekers, with work-life balance ranking as a top factor for high-quality applicants.
You’d be surprised at how even the offer of one work-from-home day a week versus none could be a deal breaker when an applicant is choosing between two job offers.
Not every job type is a perfect work-from-home fit, but every job and every employer can find at least a few ways to be more flexible, and even the smallest effort in this regard is hugely attractive to top-tier talent.
And then there’s the case of keeping the quality talent on your team. The greater flexibility you offer as part of your company benefits, the greater sense of morale you will foster with your employees and teams.
It’s a lot easier to retain people who want to come to work and enjoy being a part of the team you’ve created. It’s also easier to keep your people from looking elsewhere if you have a competitive offering. And in my experience, it all comes down to how flexible you are willing to make your workplace.
Emma-Jane Truter is the founder and Head Social Media Strategist at Social, a Cape Town-based social media studio.
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