Flexible vs. Compressed Work Schedule:
Which is best? This is a relevant question in today’s labor industry regarding preferring any work schedule. Here we will discuss it, but first, let’s clarify the concept of both flexible and compressed work schedules.
Flexible work schedules: what are they?
Employees’ job hours are determined by a flexible work schedule, which they can choose independently. When the employees work, where they will work, and when they will complete the work – there is an employment agreement with the office manager. This work schedule helps an employee manage work-life balance and stay free from work stress.
What is a Compressed Work Schedule?
A compressed work schedule does not give freedom to the employees to schedule their work as per their convenience. In a compressed work schedule, an employee must work 35-40 hours on five workdays in a week, or 8 – 10 hours a day. Due to time constraints, sometimes the compressed work schedule can be stressful, or it can be challenging for the employee to maintain the deadline.
Flexible Vs. Compressed Work Schedule: Which is Best?
Flexible and compressed work schedules both have advantages and disadvantages. In some cases, a flexible work schedule is good, while in some cases, a compressed work schedule is considered a customized work schedule. Here we are talking about some advantages and disadvantages of both the work schedules so that you can easily compare the two.
Advantages of Flexible Work Schedule
- Provides employee flexibility
A flexible work schedule empowers an employee with several advantages. This allows employees to maintain a balance between their professional and personal lives. With a flexible work schedule, employees maintain their family responsibilities and personal obligations.
- Provides a home environment to work
A flexible work schedule enables an employee to adjust his working days and hours. In this schedule, an employee is allowed to execute his work remotely. Employees feel comfortable working in a home environment. It also avoids the hassle of office traffic and the inconvenience of working in a crowded office environment.
- Ensures employee empowerment
An employee experiences personal control over his work schedule in a flexible work schedule. Decision-making about one’s work environment enhances an employee’s work spirit, increasing productivity in the company business. In addition, the employee is not burdened with much work. He can take breaks whenever he wants.
Disadvantages of Flexible Work Schedule
- Adjustment issues
Some office managers are used to watching when their employees come to the office, when they leave the office, what works, how it works, how much potential is there in the employees, etc. So, in such a situation, if office work starts being done remotely, there will be little problem in adjusting this working system for the manager.
- Reduce productivity
Some people are office-oriented. They do not like to work in the house environment. They can’t concentrate so much on their work in a happy family mood. Also, a flexible work schedule makes a person idle and reduces productivity as there is no pressure on the employees to maintain the deadline.
- Slows down the work
As in the flexible work schedule, an employee makes his schedule, so there is no punctuality in his work. And due to lack of punctuality, the employee may delay his work, resulting in a slowdown of work.
Advantages of Compressed Work Schedule?
- Gives more free time
In a compressed schedule, an employee must work 8 – 10 hours a day over five working days. Hence, the employee gets more free time which he can enjoy in various activities.
- Low absenteeism
As in a compressed work schedule, an employee gets more free time, so an employee is less likely to be absent in the workplace. He can handle his personal affairs easily as he gets two days off a week. Personal issues will not cause him to be absent in the workplace.
- Better service hours
If your business has customer service, you can set your customer service hours after 5 p.m., when your office hours are over. This schedule helps you maintain a balance between your work and customer service.
Disadvantages of Compressed Work Schedule
- Labor fatigue
As an employee in a compressed work schedule has to complete his work in a limited amount of time, the employee gets fatigued by doing the same amount of work in a shorter amount of time.
- Work stress
The workload is not the same every day – less is more. However, the compressed work schedule has fixed working hours. So, when there is more workload, it becomes challenging for an employee to complete it in a limited time, and the employee gets stressed.
- Inconvenience to employees
Some employees fit in a compressed work schedule, while others prefer a flexible work schedule. So, in such a situation, every employee will have the same work schedule, and some employees may be inconvenienced.
From the above discussion, we can see that flexible and compressed work schedules have advantages and disadvantages. Flexible vs. compressed work schedule: Which is best? It depends on the wishes, circumstances, and preferences of the employees.
However, a flexible work schedule may be preferable as it does not put time restraints and stress on the employee. An employee has complete control over their work schedule, which gives them more work satisfaction.
Conclusion
Work is done better in a work environment. Nevertheless, in today’s stressful life, more employees give importance to a flexible work schedule to do their work without stress and with more spirit.
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