Encourage team members to access flexible work arrangements

Flexibility is no longer a special provision or a reward that needs to be earned. It is part of supporting employees to maintain a healthy work-life balance and helping employers by increasing engagement and productivity. When the organisation, manager and employee work together, flexible arrangements can also help to increase job satisfaction, trust, respect and motivation, and reduce stress levels.

Actions – Individual

Know your options

Contact your HR department to learn what arrangements are available in your workplace
Stay informed about your rights and responsibilities and how you might meet them while working flexibly
Talk to colleagues who have used flexible working arrangements about how they made it work for them and their team
Remember, not all job types allow for the same flexibility, so be realistic

Set yourself up for success

Make use of your email signatures, out of office automatic replies and voice mail message to let colleagues and clients know your work days and times as well as details for someone to contact in your absence
Share your work schedule with colleagues and make sure it is easy to find e.g. stored and shared electronically

Actions – Team

While working

Work with and check in with your staff to ensure work-life needs are being met
Communicate regularly, either in person or remotely, to check in with your team including part-time, casual or remote workers. It can help to have a visible calendar where team members share their movements on any given day
Have regular catch up meetings and attend staff meetings so everyone knows what is happening around the workplace and who is responsible for what

Actions – Organisation

Create a policy framework

Develop a clear policy on flexible working arrangements and keep it up-to-date
Streamline policies and processes and make them easy to understand
Make sure all staff are aware of flexible work options and their rights

Create a supportive organisational structure

Approach any request for flexible work arrangements from the perspective of how to make it work, rather than as an obstacle
Ensure that everyone is able to request the types of flexibility that would work within their role
Ensure clarity of expectations, roles and performance for those who work flexibly as well as their teams
Encourage all staff to consider flexible arrangements

Engage your staff

Have senior leaders model flexible work arrangements by visibly demonstrating how they build flexiblity into their own lives
Discuss requests with your employees so you fully understand their needs
Consider alternatives if you can’t fully meet a staff member’s request for particular flexible arrangements
If refusing a request, provide concrete reasons as to why and keep communications open in case of future opportunities

Activity ideas