Initially popularised in Nordic countries, flextime, a dynamic work arrangement, has become a global phenomenon in work arrangements. Giving employees greater control over their schedules enables them to balance work and personal life better.
What is flextime?
Flextime revolutionises traditional work hours by saying goodbye to the 9-to-5 schedule. Employees now have the opportunity to optimise their work schedules to align with their peak productivity hours or have a chance to run errands, like going to the doctor, during regular working hours. It represents a shift that emphasises achieving success while prioritising personal well-being and focusing on family.
Pille Reiljan, Director of Operational Excellence and Process Development at Leinonen Group, shared her valuable insights on the distinction between working and personal life. Leinonen also uses Flextime to manage the over hours and vacation days of 300 employees. Read more about Leinonen’s experience.
“Through many years and perhaps not the brightest moments, I have realised that working life and private life are very different things.”
Flexible working hours prevent burnout
Excessive working hours can lead to burnout and harm mental health.
The World Health Organization estimates that over 745,000 people worldwide suffer from heart disease due to working more than 55 hours per week.
Flextime, the easy solution to preventing burnout
Tracking your working time allows you to identify extra hours invested in work, enabling you to manage overtime and get well-deserved time off.
An additional 20 minutes daily can accumulate to nearly an entire workday in a month. This could be an extra vacation day every month!
Flexible working time gives you the independence to manage your work schedules according to your needs. Doctor visits or picking up children from school are common scenarios where flexibility is crucial. By having the ability to adjust your work schedule with flextime, you can attend to these responsibilities without compromising your professional commitments. The ability to decide when and where to work allows professionals to achieve a healthier work-life balance.
Work when you’re feeling the most productive
You can optimise performance by organising your workday around your most productive hours.
The Gartner 2021 Digital Worker Experience Survey revealed that 43% of respondents believe flexibility in working hours contributes to greater productivity and prevents burnout.
How does flextime help me recognise my most productive hours?
The circadian rhythm is your unique 24-hour cycle that helps control your sleep and wakefulness. Remember those all-nighters from your teenage years? Now, 10 PM feels like bedtime. Your circadian rhythm is the reason.
Working during your unique productivity periods gives you a higher ability to concentrate, leading to more motivation and exceptional results.
50% of companies in the United Kingdom practice flextime.
It’s a powerful solution for achieving work-life balance and boosting productivity in the accounting profession. By embracing flexible working hours, accountants have control over their schedules, avoid burnout, and achieve higher job satisfaction.
If your company is not practicing flextime yet – what are you waiting for? Contact your manager today and tell them how flextime helps you be a better employee.
If you’re a manager and want to know how implementing flextime helps your company, read more here >
Read more about how to effectively implement Flextime here >
If you want to learn more about flexible working or Uku’s flextime tool, listen to the webinar on this topic. Register here >
