Over the past few decades, an evident tradition has developed, dictating the norms of the working regime. Working hours from 9 to 5 have become a kind of anthem for many office workers. However, the latest trends force people to increasingly pay attention to alternatives. In light of these developments, the key issue is the widespread adoption of flexible working hours. Currently, workers are leaving work searching for more profitable alternatives and paying more attention to the balance of life and work. On the other hand, employers are forced to adapt, trying to respond correctly. However, current conditions show that the only option for employers is to offer flexible working hours. This paper aims to confirm this thesis by analyzing the literature.
The need to take some action in changing the working regime is highly relevant to employers. Moreover, if they do not take some timely measures, difficult times can come for most organizations. The reason for this is the phenomenon that has been called the Great Resignation. In half of 2021, about 20 million American workers voluntarily left their jobs searching for other positions (Smith, 2021). Although the pandemic partly caused this phenomenon, many people left, not agreeing with their environment. For many, work flexibility not only means not showing up to the office at set times but also the ability to have more meaningful interactions with colleagues. Pursuing these values drives people out of work, and organizations that do not implement modifications will soon be at a disadvantage.
The value of changes in the working regime and the availability of a more flexible schedule become more relevant for the workers themselves. First, such advantages allow them to realize many different opportunities. One of the most basic of these concepts is the balance between professional activities and private life. Studies show that achieving the right proportions between them can improve a person’s physical, emotional, and mental condition (Fletcher, 2021). Thus, a more flexible working regime is closely related to the quality of human life. The value of this factor has increased significantly in recent years. Consequently, the demands for a more flexible regime are also dictated by the desire to live better, which society cannot ignore.
Thus, it is clear that providing workers with flexible hours is necessary for employees to improve their life’s quality and for employers who depend on the environment. From the first perspective, a flexible regime will allow professionals to better build their lives and carry out their duties more efficiently. For employers, such changes will be just another adaptation to an ever-changing market, which the state must further promote. This transition can be achieved by borrowing remote and outsourced work techniques, combining them with a more responsive structure devoid of elements that complicate communication. With the successful implementation of such techniques, flexible working hours and the absence of the need to be in the office from 9 to 5 may soon become a new traditional form of professional activity.
References
Smith, J. (2021). Is flexibility key to addressing the Great Resignation?
Fletcher, M. (2021). How to improve work-life balance.