Q: I hired a great employee over the summer, dependable, bright and motivated. Before hire I knew the employee had a couple of kids, and now that school has started and there are parent-teacher conferences and other activities, there have been many requests for change in schedule and hours. I don’t mind providing a flexible schedule as long a the works gets done sometime between 7 am and 7 pm. Is there a down side to allowing too much flexibility?

A: I’m a big fan of flexible schedules, and I believe many employers under-utilize this powerful tool.

A flexible schedule is a perk valued by employees, yet it costs the employers little or nothing.

Flexible schedules increase productivity, and job satisfaction. And although your question cites an employee with a child as the reason for a flexible schedule, that’s really only one example of many.

Productivity and Self Care – For instance a flexible schedule allows employees to work when they are most productive, to avoid rush hour, to take better care of themselves (a gym workout and healthy lunch mid-day) or enrich their lives with yoga, meditation or art class.

Family – And one of the most important, to take care of their family obligations –whether caring for a sick parent, or a child’s schooling –so their minds are free of worry and can be more productive and creative and engaged at work.

Of course that doesn’t mean that it’s easy, or that it will work in every workplace or with every job or with every employee. To answer your question about downsides, here are some things you should consider :

• Will only some employees be offered flexibility? For example will you offer it only to a selected class, like salaried professionals? Or those with kids? Expect it will seems unfair to those you exclude
• Will you offer this only to employees in good standing? In other words will they have to “earn” the perk?
• Does your business lend itself to a flex schedule? If the work requires staff to be present at specific times (like a restaurant or store) it’s a non starter.
• Does a flex schedule include working remotely? Will you have trial periods to determine if employee handles it responsibly?

To me these are not necessarily downsides, they are angles to consider before implementing what I see as almost an inevitable reality of the new workplace.

©Copyright Eva Del Rio

Eva Del Rio is creator of HR Box™ – tools for small businesses and startups. Send questions to Eva@evadelrio.com