HR Resources » Human Resource Advice » Recruitment and Retention » Ideas for offering flexible work options

Flexible work options can help you manage a workforce of individuals with diverse needs. It can also help you brand your company to create a distinct workplace culture. If you’re interested in flexible work options, take a look at the wide range of offerings. You can customize programs for individual employees or even your organization as a whole.

Flexible work option ideas

Flex-time: employee hours may not fit neatly within the traditional nine to five block. An employee may work four 10 hour days, so they can have Fridays off. Another employee may work from 7 am to 3 pm, so that they can pick up their kids from school. Yet another employee may work from 10 am to 6 pm, because they take night school courses.

Part-time: employees work fewer than 40 hours so that they can meet personal, family, education, semi-retirement or other lifestyle goals

Unpaid leave of absence: employee takes time without pay to pursue longer term travel, education or personal goals

Self-funded leave of absence: working on a four-year span, employees receive ¾ pay for the first three years. In the fourth year, they receive a year off while continuing to receive ¾ pay.

Compressed work week: employees work longer hours but fewer days. They may work four 10-hour days and take Friday off.

Job sharing: In this team-based approach, two employees share one job but work part-time – while managing communication.

Telecommuting: employee works from home on a sporadic, part-time or full-time basis. In some cases, the employee may spend a day working at home to look after an ill teenager or to meet a contractor for home repairs. Other employees will telecommutefor a few hours or days each week. Still others work from home on a permanent basis.

Phased retirement: when an employee plans retirement, they might prefer to gradually reduce work hours over a period or months or years. Your organization gains from retaining the employee for more time.

Ramped up return to full-time: an employee who’s been on parental leave, part-time hours or casual hours gradually increases their workload until they’re at a 40-hour work week.

By incorporating flexible work offerings, your organization can stand out in the world of work. You’ll be in a better position to manage four generations in the same workplace, beef up your job benefits and complement your employee retention programs.

Related to flexible work options

• Flexible work options: the skinny half-sweet latte of work
• How to identify what motivates your employees
• Employee retention programs – ideas for retaining staff