octobernovember2022 - 22

THE LEADERSHIP ADVISOR
5 Alternative Work
Schedules to Replace
Your 9-to-5
& Make Your
Firm Happier
THE CLOCK IS ticking for the 9-to-5 work schedule. Many workers have begun to demand
more flexible work schedules. Those with families generally want the option of working
from home at least one day a week. Employee morale is better when workers can work
from home on their schedule, and employees who can work only part-time have struggled
to find employers that will accommodate their schedule.
The reason is simple: businesses
often fear what these changes could
mean for workplace productivity and
profitability. Here are five alternative
work schedules that offer a range
of options for both companies and
their employees:
CORE HOURS
With core hours, a company chooses
set days and times when all employees
are expected to work, for example,
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Thursday.
Between those times, all employees
are present in the office and working.
They can schedule the rest of their
hours for whenever works best for
them. This is ideal for companies
with a busy workload that requires
teams to be together in one place at
certain times. It also helps with team
dynamics because everyone is present
during core hours.
FLEXTIME
Flextime allows employees to
choose when they want to start
their day as long as it doesn't interfere
with deadlines or client needs.
If a staff member has regular client
work later in the day, she shouldn't
set her flex schedule so that she
leaves early every day and misses
crucial client opportunities.
Because flextime varies based
on individual needs and preferences,
it's ideal for those with other
commitments outside work, such
as children or elderly relatives who
need caretaking. Many firms offer
this option to attract new talent
because it appeals to those looking
for flexibility in their jobs.
TELECOMMUTING
Telecommuting allows staff to
work regularly from home or some
other location outside of the office
and is increasingly popular with
companies. Employees can also
choose to come into the office on a
part-time basis. Firms can also set
mandatory in-office days or times.
This flexibility allows a company to
save money by paying for less space
and equipment, while at the same
time giving employees more control
over their schedule.
Telecommuting is an excellent
way to boost productivity and
reduce your environmental impact.
It also serves as an opportunity for
employees to increase their skills by
working independently on projects.
COMPRESSED
WORKWEEK
A compressed work schedule allows
employees to work a traditional
35-40 hour workweek less than the
22 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2022 ■ www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com
AMY VETTER, CPA.CITP, CGMA
Mindful Technologist &
Keynote Speaker
@AmyVetterCPA
conventional number of workdays.
For example, a full-time employee
scheduled for 40 hours per week could
work four 10-hour days instead of five
8-hour days. This arrangement can
benefit both employers and employees
by increasing productivity while
reducing stress levels by providing
more days off during the week.
JOB SHARING
Job sharing is a flexible work arrangement
in which two people work
part-time schedules to complete the
work one person would do in a single
full-time job. The two employees
share all responsibilities (including
pay) and split the total hours. Each
employee typically works half the
full-time hours (for example, 20
hours per week).
Job sharing can benefit both
employers and employees because
it allows companies to retain experienced
workers looking for greater
work-life balance. Meanwhile, job
sharers benefit from having more
free time than they would if they
worked alone on full-time duties.
It's important to mention that
if your firm isn't yet ready for a
shift in schedule, you don't have to
implement a complete change right
away. Try implementing the alternatives,
then assess how it worked and
determine how to move forward. ■
http://www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com
octobernovember2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of octobernovember2022
