Happy employees result in a productive work culture!
What type of management style do your prefer?—micro-management with all your employees working from their desk, or are you comfortable with macro management?
In a digital world where technology is the supreme commander for all businesses, flexible working seems a viable option. The tedious backbreaking 9-5 jobs can be done by accessing the latest flicks of technology. All you are concerned about getting a productive outcome regardless of how and where the job gets done.
By leveraging technology, employees are privileged to share files on various platforms, communicate with colleagues, and collaborate on multiple projects through group conferencing and online meetings with the clients and the organizational leaders.
This work arrangement eases the burden of commuting and avoids distractions at the workplace. Bygone are days when productivity was measured in terms of the number of hours an employee relentlessly works at the office. Most organizations now prefer quality over quantity, hence there is a paradigm shift with flexible work culture at most enterprises.
Flexible Working
What are the perks of long-hour jobs?
Are you married to your job?
That’s what was the life of most employees before the widespread outbreak of the global pandemic. As your office executive continues to burn the midnight oil, long working hours continue to put tremendous pressure on their personal life and mental health.
Are employees working for long hours have bigger accomplishments than those working for shorter spans, preferably those focusing on flexible work-life balance? Recent studies reveal that long working hours has no connection with work productivity.
On the contrary, some severe repercussions of long working hours came to the front. With chances of acquiring heart ailment, reduced sleep cycle, and signs of depression, your employees’ health is at higher risk.
Apart from an individual perspective, when you add up employees’ absenteeism due to health ailments, it can have severe implications on your productivity and service deliverables. To avert the pernicious impact of long working hours, several organizations are now implementing flexible working that involves remote working, job sharing, telecommunicating, etc.
Flexi work culture and its direct correlation with employee’s health
Amongst the various benefits of flexible working, one notable advantage is that employees are working at the pink of their health. But how does it impact your business?
Well, your employees formulate the major workforce for your organization, so having healthy, happy, and productive employees will boost creative minds, enhance productivity, and escalate sustainable business growth.
Studies show that over a consistent time frame of flexible working employees have reported having better health conditions as they were happier in their work and achieved their set goals.
- Improved Sleep Cycle
Studies show that, on average, 30% of adults are sleep deprived. But with the introduction of flexible working employees have overcome the perks of their sleep needs. They are now proactive professionals with improved attentiveness, heightened concentration levels, and have become more spontaneous. Such an improvement has undoubtedly resulted in better work productivity and formulating creative strategy.
- Reduced stress
Work-life stress is a familiar term common to most millennials. From rushing to the office in the wee hours, attending back-to-back meetings, and pacifying the client’s needs, job stress can severely impact health. But with flexible working employees can work with external responsibilities and obligations that can hinder the workflow. Furthermore, unwanted disturbance from colleagues, reduction in office politics, and a personalized quiet working environment is what most employees seek.
- Aids in overcoming depression
Did you know that the poor mental health of your employees can cost you billions? So to ease the peril leveraging flexible working culture is the best option. Mental illness is a significantly bigger term with ample causes, among which one significant cause is immense work pressure beyond office hours. Studies reveal that with flexible work culture, employees find solace and have enhanced job satisfaction. With reduced depression, they have a better sleep cycle and can eradicate other health perils.
- Improves health eating habits
Do you plan to satiate your mid-afternoon craving with burger or pizza? Or did your caffeine consumption subsequently increased with a tremendous workload?
Does it happen that you skip breakfast as you need to rush to catch the office bus, or have you compromised on your lunch for an office meeting? Are the scenarios relatable?
For proper body functioning, it is imperative to have a healthy balanced diet, which most of us skip, to meet deadlines. But as you switch to a more comfortable working environment, you can munch down your breakfast in peace while working on an office presentation. Besides, studies show that remote working has subsequently reduced fast food cravings and empowered healthy eating habits.
- Lowers consumption of alcohol
Do you occasionally drink on office parties, or has the stress so engulfed your thoughts that you find comfort in pouring a glass of wine/whiskey?
If this is the case, it’s time to switch to a more flexible working environment to stay relaxed and focused. Implementation of flexible working hours has shown reduced consumption of alcohol, which, in turn, allows proper functioning of the other organs like kidney and liver. Besides, flexible working also has shown potential benefits in reducing diabetes.
- Reduces the risk of cardiovascular ailment/hypertension
Too much work pressure can alleviate your blood pressure levels, thereby causing anxiety, stress, and severe impact, a cardiac arrest. Hence it is imperative to work in an environment free from additional hassle and stress. As such, the benefits of flexible working are colossal. This work culture aided in reducing the chances of cardiac ailment and hypertension. There has been potentially lower cholesterol levels and adequate sleep that keeps the employees free from stress.
Bottom-line
The potential benefits of flexible working are well known that render enhanced work-life balance, create employee motivation, and offer greater autonomy. But employers must understand the greater benefits flexible work culture can render in achieving potential business goals. Besides the staff, with flexible working, the management also benefits in terms of cost reduction, increased productivity, and improved loyalty.
