Benefits of a Flexible Work Schedule
The benefits of a flexible work schedule for employees are clear and well-documented. Therefore, you should plan to negotiate a flexible work schedule with your employer in mind.
Note: Negotiating for a flexible work schedule is not about you. It’s not about what works best for you and your family. Negotiation is about the advantages your employer will gain from allowing you to work a flexible schedule. With a little thought and creativity, you can turn every benefit for you and your family into a benefit for the employer.
Will You Need to Negotiate?
In workplaces that care about employee welfare, flexible work schedules are written into their policies and procedures. Check your employee handbook and talk to your human resources staff. Trends have been moving towards supporting employers for remote work and flexible schedules, at least occasionally.
Inquire within your organization to see if other employees have flexible work schedules. Find out what they did to negotiate their schedule and listen to their tips for making the schedule work.
Organizations with flexible work schedule policies also have guidelines. These often include that employees must have alternative care arrangements, so that remote-working parents have the freedom to work. Some set expectations for employee availability for regular communication and require attendance electronically or in person at meetings. Others specify the time frame required to respond to calls.
Plan to Negotiate a Flexible Work Schedule
Do not approach your boss about a flexible work schedule without a plan. You only have one chance to negotiate if your company does not have a policy. Make it easy for your boss to say “yes.”
Note: Consider what you would like to negotiate. What schedule will provide the work-life balance that you want to achieve? Think about your life and your job. Can you work on aspects of the job from home? If so, how many days would be ideal? Or would starting later allow you to drop the kids off at daycare?
Take a serious look at your life and work habits. Some employees cannot work from home. Laundry always demands attention, or bills need to be paid. They find that coworkers motivate them and will miss the conversations in the office.
Ask yourself if you can compartmentalize your life. Employees who do well at this are the best candidates for remote work.
How Employers Benefit from a Flexible Schedule
Once you have a plan for what you want to negotiate in your flexible work schedule, consider how the employer will benefit from the flexible schedule. Perhaps you will be able to work two hours that you currently spend commuting.
Reducing stress will make you less worried about childcare if you can drop them off at daycare and pick them up.
Note: Many employees find that they accomplish more work when they start early, extend their working hours, or work remotely. Employees find they can get more work done when there are fewer interruptions. If remote work is the flexible solution for your work, negotiate the fact that the employer won’t need to provide daily office space for you.
When you’re ready to negotiate, present your case. Suggest trying the flexible schedule on a trial basis to reassure your boss, coworkers, and clients that the arrangement benefits all parties.
Writing a Negotiation Plan with Your Employer
Your written proposal should include the following:
- Why you want a flexible work schedule
- How the employer will benefit from a flexible work schedule
- If you are working remotely, explain your home workstation and equipment
- How
- You will maintain regular communication with your boss, clients, and colleagues
- How you will get the work done and achieve your goals
- How you and your manager will regularly review the effectiveness of the flexible work schedule with periodic evaluations
- The support you will need from your manager to make the flexible arrangement successful
- Any needs you have related to your position and job responsibilities
Negotiating with Your Supervisor
Assuming you have created an actionable plan that benefits both parties, arrange a meeting with your supervisor to request a flexible work schedule.
Note: Remember that your supervisor is responsible for enforcing the current company policy and ensuring fairness and consistency within their department and other departments in the company. When negotiating a flexible work schedule, you are not the only consideration. Your written plan, shared with the supervisor, will support your case. Try to agree on communication standards, evaluating goal achievement, performance evaluation metrics, and methods for continuous success assessment with your manager, clients, and colleagues. It is particularly important to establish a feedback loop with your manager to address their concerns. Your manager should be able to advocate for and support your flexible work schedule within your work community. Other employees will soon request the same leave or similar perks. You will want your decisions to be considered by other employees.
A flexible work schedule can work successfully for all parties. You should negotiate your case, reassure your employer that you are working for their best interest, and find ways to measure and communicate the success of the arrangement. You need to ensure that communication with your colleagues and clients is as successful as it was before the flexible work schedule. Measure the results and communicate the outcomes. Engage with your colleagues during weekly meetings. Work during the required core hours. Understand that the responsibility for success, when negotiating and working with a flexible work schedule, rests entirely on your shoulders.
Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/how-to-negotiate-a-flexible-schedule-1919357
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