In the past few years, the way we look at work has changed significantly. Work-life balance is now more of a priority and is now one of the main benefits job-hunters look for in potential employers.
Work-life balance and flexibility are becoming more prominent since the pandemic kicks in, more and more people prefer to spend more time to taking care of their personal life.
No longer can companies offer higher pay or bonuses and think that it is enough to recruit top talent. Employees now want flexible or remote work—and companies across the globe are taking note.
Many improvements in flexible working have been facilitated by the growth in flexible office space. These spaces allow employees to switch up their routines and find motivation in new environments. It has also helped companies to reduce overheads and improve employee satisfaction.
Flexible office environment and work schedule allow employees more control over their lives. Instead of being constrained to their company's office, they now can work from flexible office space or home for the best efficiency whenever needed.
Here are some successful flexible work arrangements that showcase excellent work flexibility examples. These examples have proved to be beneficial for both employees and employers -- and can be implemented in a range of industries.
5 examples of flexible working arrangement
1. Adaptavist
The first of our flexible working examples comes from Adaptavist—a software solutions company that has embraced all work styles to create a full hybrid system for their employees.
Hybrid working is one of flexible styles of work. It allows staff to choose between working from the office, their home, or telecommuting.
At Adaptavist, they believe in an ‘outcome-focused’ way of work. They want employees to produce excellent results, but how they get there is up to them. If this means working 2 hours in the morning and 4 hours at midnight from home – that’s fine! If it means working an 8-hour day at the office, it is equally as OK.
Employees at Adaptavist are also able to take advantage of flexible workspace. Without being confined to specific company offices, they have more freedom over their workday - and personal life.
2. Humana
For many employees, working from home does not affect their output. But, for customer service representatives, not having access to the right tools and technology can severely impact their work.
At Humana, a U.S healthcare company, they introduced flexible work models into their business, but these policies did not benefit the call centre team. This is because their calls could only be recorded at their desks.
Other staff used flexible office solutions and chose their hours, but call centre staff had to work where their equipment was—the office.
In response to this, Humana equipped all call centre staff with new technology. This allowed them to complete their work as normal, regardless of their location.
This meant that all staff, regardless of department or responsibilities, were able to enjoy the perks of remote work. Now, Humana is one of the best case studies of implementing flexible work schedules that are beneficial company-wide.
3. Unilever
Despite being a large, established company, Unilever has always been very forward-thinking when it comes to its work programmes.
The consumer goods brand has long allowed its employees to work from anywhere, making them a great flexible workspace case study.
They do not even ask employees to work a regular 9-5 day. Instead, they get the freedom to complete their work at any time that suits them.
Whether they want to work from home, a flexible office space, or a completely different country, Unilever supports them with adaptable work programmes. They also all have access to the technology they need to keep work standards high.
This flexibility has been made successful through the implementation of flexible office space. This helped staff adapt to the new ways of working seamlessly.
Alongside these arrangements, staff can also take part in job-sharing, reduced hours, and other examples of flexible working arrangements to help them to prioritise their work-life balance.
4. Forster Communications
Forster Communications, a London-based PR agency, is a good flexible workspace case study that shows even small companies can offer flexibility.
The company, which has only 25 employees, is known for its work addressing the issues of mental health in the workplace. They have also incorporated many incentivised perks that encourage staff to prioritise their mental health.
Forster Communications offer staff five weeks of annual leave a year, flexible working hours, cycle-to-work schemes, and cashback for the miles they travel to meetings.
These perks allow workers the choice to work in flexible office space a few days a week. This change of scenery ultimately allowed for more productivity and motivation in their work.
5. Monzo
Not only is Monzo disrupting the banking industry as we know it, but they are also turning corporate and work culture on their heads.
Their central office, located at Finsbury Square in London, offers employees weekly yoga and pilates sessions, team-building events around the city, plus extra days of paid annual leave.
In addition to the already-generous holiday entitlement, Monzo goes the extra mile to allow successful flexible work arrangements by giving an additional month of unpaid leave every year for those pursuing personal projects. This could include anything like travelling, learning a new language, or training for a marathon.
Monzo is an excellent flexible workspace case study as they have shown how to prioritise employee wellbeing while making office life adaptable and exciting.
Despite the office being a central focus for this innovative start-up, they also allow staff the flexibility to choose where they work. Whether that is from flexible office space throughout the week or the central office—they have well and truly put the power in the hands of their staff.
Conclusion
It now becomes the norm for companies to offer flexible working opportunities for their staff. Hopefully, by reading through these successful flexible work arrangements case studies, you see how beneficial they can be.
Whether you encourage your employees to work from flexible office spaces, increase their annual leave entitlement, or give them the tools they need to work from anywhere, the future of work is definitely in flexibility.