Managing Flexible Work Arrangements – How To

As a business owner, did you know that you have a legal obligation to provide flexible working opportunities to your employees? Whether you can put part-time or job sharing into place, or offer telecommuting, flexible work is a requirement of managing a team within your business. If you are cautious about what will happen when implementing this within your team, know this – research has shown that companies who offer flexible work arrangements have higher levels of employee satisfaction and lower staff turnover. Continue reading to learn more about managing flexible work arrangements.

We are firm believers in being on the front foot when it comes to embracing new technology and the opportunities that technology can bring, but we know it’s also important to be prepared for every possible eventuality. That’s why we have put together this piece on managing flexible work in the hopes that it helps you manage your team effectively for future success.

Read on to find out more about how to manage flexible working arrangements, and then get in touch if you would like advice and guidance on managing a remote team. After all, a remote team presents new challenges in terms of human resources and compliance management, and we are here to ensure that you succeed every step of the way.

Reach us on (07) 3630 5695 or get in touch with us online.

What are the Obligations of a Business Owner?

You are required under industrial relations and anti-discrimination legislation to offer flexible working arrangements to employees who have been with your business for more than 12 months if they:

  • are a parent or carer of a child who is school-aged or younger
  • are a carer
  • have a disability
  • are over 55
  • are experiencing family or domestic violence
  • provide care to a family member who is experiencing family or domestic violence.

You must provide detailed reasons for refusing a request for a flexible working arrangement. We can give you more information about this if you have questions – please call us on (07) 3630 5695 to find out more from our team.

What Kind of Flexible Working Arrangements Can be Put in Place?

Thanks to modern technology, there are many flexible working options available to business owners. You might have an employee approach you and request part-time work because they have to care for a relative. This would be possible with a team member who works on a computer and whose responsibilities can be fulfilled remotely. Other working arrangements include:

  • flexible working hours
  • compressed working schedule
  • job sharing
  • working from home
  • part-time work

You can get just as much from your team with a flexible working arrangement, and in fact, you may find that morale and support from your team increases as their lives are improved by new arrangements.

Managing Flexible Work Arrangements – How to Manage Flexible Workers

A key part of managing a flexible working arrangement is ensuring that your team can be just as productive from home or in their new hours. A part of this is ensuring that your record-keeping is immaculate; that way you will be able to monitor working hours and output and see how effective a flexible working arrangement is. Other important factors include:

  • invest in the right technology that makes managing your team simple
  • make data accessible remotely and champion this access for your entire team
  • hold regular performance reviews where you check in with flexible workers and adjust and pivot based on experiences and feedback
  • encourage working together – whether it is using an instant messaging service like Slack or Yammer or something else – ensure that your team is in constant communication.

Meet your HR Obligations While Team Members are Working Remotely

Even though staff may be part-time or working remotely, they still need to be meeting time sheet requirements, taking scheduled breaks, and performing to their role appropriately. This is where working with a company like Bramwell Partners can provide the peace of mind you need to move forward with this. Bramwell Partners offer HR consulting and can implement a flexible working policy to help you with managing flexible work arrangements.

We provide the peace of mind you need to be able to transition a full-time team member to a flexible worker, knowing that your obligations are being met. Call us today for a discussion about our services on (07) 3630 5695 or reach out online for a call back from our team. We would love to be part of the growth of your business and a positive part of this shift into a new way of working.