By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
SmartData CollectiveSmartData CollectiveSmartData Collective
  • Analytics
    AnalyticsShow More
    data-driven white label SEO
    Does Data Mining Really Help with White Label SEO?
    7 Min Read
    marketing analytics for hardware vendors
    IT Hardware Startups Turn to Data Analytics for Market Research
    9 Min Read
    big data and digital signage
    The Power of Big Data and Analytics in Digital Signage
    5 Min Read
    data analytics investing
    Data Analytics Boosts ROI of Investment Trusts
    9 Min Read
    football data collection and analytics
    Unleashing Victory: How Data Collection Is Revolutionizing Football Performance Analysis!
    4 Min Read
  • Big Data
  • BI
  • Exclusive
  • IT
  • Marketing
  • Software
Search
© 2008-23 SmartData Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Are Flexible Work Policies Coming to IT?
Share
Notification Show More
Aa
SmartData CollectiveSmartData Collective
Aa
Search
  • About
  • Help
  • Privacy
Follow US
© 2008-23 SmartData Collective. All Rights Reserved.
SmartData Collective > Exclusive > Are Flexible Work Policies Coming to IT?
ExclusiveIT

Are Flexible Work Policies Coming to IT?

Larry Alton
Last updated: 2017/05/24 at 3:19 PM
Larry Alton
5 Min Read
Flexible Work Policies
SHARE

With new remote technologies and shifting expectations, flexible working has become much more realistic over the past couple of years. But, for the most part, IT has remained unaffected.

Contents
Preparing for Flexible Work Policies Putting it All Together

However, that could be changing in 2017.

Preparing for Flexible Work Policies

From an IT employer’s perspective, few things are more important than keeping employees happy. Satisfied workers are much more productive and engaged, which obviously means you’re able to generate a higher return on your human capital. And when you study trends among those inside and outside of the IT industry, it’s clear that flexible work policies are something many desire.

If you’re unsure of what this looks like in your organization, it’s time to brush up on some of the new trends that are sweeping the nation. What you’ll discover is that flexible work policies benefit the employer as much as the employee.

More Read

using data-driven cybersecurity to fight ACH fraud

Remote IT and Cybersecurity Careers for Data Scientists

6 Essential Practices For Data Security With Remote Working
The Benefits Of Pursuing AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Certification
IT Industry Embraces Data-Led Approach As New Buzzword Emerges
Big Data Leads To A Turning Point In Shadow IT

Most organizations assume that remote working is the only viable flexible working policy out there, but this is far from the truth. In fact, remote working isn’t always practical for IT workers. Flexible scheduling – in the form of setting your own hours – is a much better option.

With flexible scheduling, you essentially let employees set their own hours (within guidelines) – as long as they provide the prescribed 40 hours per week that are stipulated in their contract. So, instead of working a 9-to-5 schedule, some employees may work a 7-to-3 or 10-to-6 schedule.

Then there’s 4-10 scheduling, which is where employees work four 10-hour days (as opposed to five 8-hour days) and get three days off per week.

“I love the arrangement of the four-day workweek,” says Teresa Allen, a customer service representative for American Fidelity Assurance Co. in Oklahoma City. She arrives to the office as early as 6:30 in the morning. “I enjoy having Wednesdays off and can focus on spending time with family and maintaining a home. It helps me with balancing stresses of being a family provider and full-time employee.”

However, establishing some sort of flexible work policy in your IT organization isn’t a solution for everything. In addition to creating a policy that sounds good on the surface, you need to set your employees up for success.

“Flex-time won’t enable productivity if the company does not provide the tools and the worker does not bring the discipline to make it so. A worker must have discipline to work during those times they are unsupervised,” says Elena Sabourova of Dialpad. “Providing them the opportunity does not ensure their success. Expectations must be set and mutually agreed upon.”

It’s best to roll out a flexible work policy in stages. Start by explaining the policy to employees. During this time, openly accept questions and provide clear answers on what you expect from employees. Then roll out a temporary policy in which you openly reserve the right to make tweaks after a given period of time. From here, you can gradually make things more permanent and slowly give employees more responsibility.

Putting it All Together

Dan Schawbel, research director at Future Workplace, calls workplace flexibility the “linchpin to employee happiness.” He believes that in 2017 and beyond, businesses can no longer get away with only offering employees the standard 9-to-5 office-based work schedule. It’s simply too rigid and archaic. And he’s right!

Like it or not, flexible work policies are coming to IT. It’s your job to recognize this evolving trend and prepare your business for the inevitable. It’s much better to proactively engage flexible work policies than it is to sit back and wait.

Are you ready to initiate movement in this new direction?

TAGGED: it, remote technologies, work policies
Larry Alton May 24, 2017
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn
Share
By Larry Alton
Follow:
Larry is an independent business consultant specializing in tech, social media trends, business, and entrepreneurship. Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Follow us on Facebook

Latest News

big data and IP laws
Big Data & AI In Collision Course With IP Laws – A Complete Guide
Big Data
ai in marketing
4 Ways AI Can Enhance Your Marketing Strategies
Marketing
sobm for ai-driven cybersecurity
Software Bill of Materials is Crucial for AI-Driven Cybersecurity
Security
IT budgeting for data-driven companies
IT Budgeting Practices for Data-Driven Companies
IT

Stay Connected

1.2k Followers Like
33.7k Followers Follow
222 Followers Pin

You Might also Like

using data-driven cybersecurity to fight ACH fraud
Data Science

Remote IT and Cybersecurity Careers for Data Scientists

9 Min Read
data security
Security

6 Essential Practices For Data Security With Remote Working

5 Min Read
cloud practitioner certification
Cloud Computing

The Benefits Of Pursuing AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Certification

4 Min Read
big data marketing for app developers
IT

IT Industry Embraces Data-Led Approach As New Buzzword Emerges

6 Min Read

SmartData Collective is one of the largest & trusted community covering technical content about Big Data, BI, Cloud, Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, IoT & more.

ai is improving the safety of cars
From Bolts to Bots: How AI Is Fortifying the Automotive Industry
Artificial Intelligence
data-driven web design
5 Great Tips for Using Data Analytics for Website UX
Big Data

Quick Link

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Follow US
© 2008-23 SmartData Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Go to mobile version
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?