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Presented to:
Languages Department
By:
Curada, Jirah
To Flex or not to Flex
Thesis Statement:
employees who work non-traditional hours, lack of policies and procedures for
administering flexible work arrangements and loss of employee connection for both
clients and colleagues, the benefits it produ2ce, such as reduced turnover and hiring
costs, happier and more satisfied employees, and more productive workforce are
1.0 Introduction
2.0 Background
2.1 Flexitime definition
2.2 Flexitime Description
2.3 Flexitime Process and procedures
2.4 Development of flexitime
2.4.1 International setting
2.4.2 Philippine setting
2.5 Laws or standards of flexitime
2.6 Issues
2.6.1 Stress at work
2.6.2 Filipino Time
2.6.3 Family-Orientedness of Filipinos
3.0 Advantages of Flexitime
3.1 Reduced turnover and hiring costs
3.2 Happier and more satisfied employees
3.3 More productive workforce
4.0 Disadvantages of Flexitime
4.1 Lack of supervision on employees who work non-traditional hours
4.1.1 Noncompliance with company policies
4.2 Informal nature of flexitime
4.3 Loss of employee connection
4.3.1 Reduced team efficiency
5.0 Refutation
5.1 Schedule Coordination
5.2 Implementation of clear and definitive flexible working policies
5.3 Administration of staff meetings and assemblies
6.0 Conclusion
Nowadays, organizations continually search for improvements on how to
strategies are no longer effective due to change of time. The millennial generation
believes that the employees must be treated not as liabilities but as individual with
special needs.
Most companies apply fixed regular working hours wherein the schedule of the
employees are already set by the employers and is commonly from morning up to
afternoon. Consequently, alternative work schedules that are different from fixed
regular working hours are needed so that the principle of the new generation will be
met. Employees want a work time arrangement in which they are more likely to balance
their obligations to their families and their commitments to their work. Because of these
flexitime.
Flexible time is less rigid than fixed schedule. Employers and employees work
hand in hand to determine the number of hours that should be complied. Depending on
the employers policy, employees may be expected to work minimum number of hours
or be at work at a certain daily block of time, but shifts can be often be switched with
other co-workers in order to satisfy the needs of the employer and the busy life of the
employee.
Although flexi time working hours have drawbacks, such as lack of supervision
on employees who work non-traditional hours, lack of policies and procedures for
administering flexible work arrangements and loss of employee connection for both
clients and colleagues, the benefits it produces, such as reduced turnover and hiring
costs, happier and more satisfied employees, and more productive workforce are
According to Staines (1989), flexible work schedules offer the promise of a low-
cost option for helping employees balance their work and family responsibilities. Miller
(2016), gives another definition of flexible time where he explained that, Flexible work
schedule on a daily basis as long as the workweek contains the contracted number of
hours (p.1). In this paper, we give much more agreement to the definition given by
Lucas and Heady (2002) states that, Flexible time is a generic term for work-hours
It is already evident that there are ongoing changes in the composition of labor
workforce in the world that is why; the concept of flexible work schedule was created. In
past years, the husband is expected to be the breadwinner in the family and the wife
assumes all the duties in the house. However, this tradition is somehow diminishing
because of lapse of time. Today, there are an increase numbers of employed wives and
mothers, husbands of these working women, female single parents, older workers, and
workers with physical handicaps and disabilities in the labor force throughout the world.
These modern workers should weigh their responsibilities and duties to their work and
to their homes. Because of these, employees tend to have more stress and have no
focus in work and will usually results to decrease of effectiveness and efficiency.
Flexible work schedules offer the promise of a low-cost option for helping to manage
Many companies here in the Philippines and especially abroad have adapt this
type of work time arrangement. However, how does flexitime works? Normally flexible
plans permit employees to choose when will be their beginning and ending times as
long as the necessary work hours per week (usually 10 am to 3 pm) are have been
considered full time if they worked twelve-hour night shifts on Friday, Saturday, and
Sunday. Just like the full time employees who worked for 36 hours, flexitime workers will
still be earning full time benefits. Allowing employees to work at home for part of the
week, saving employees on commuting costs while also, making them to function at
their own pace and schedule as long as the work will be accomplish is another schedule
in flexible time. Job sharing, another popular alternative, allowed two employees to
share benefits and job responsibilities, giving them the freedom to schedule themselves
(Miller, 2016).
Hidalgo, V., a reporter from Inquirer News, had an interview to the director of
Regus, the worlds largest provider of workplace solutions, who conducted global
research report, told that nine out of 10 companies in the Philippines are now allowing
flexible working hours to their staff. The director of Regus also added that seventy-five
percent of businesses here in the Philippines are offering flexible working hours have
already reaped benefits. They saw their staffs have a better work-life balance, an
increased satisfaction and motivation. The survey also notes an improvement in staff
productivity. A quarter of flexible working businesses also state that their policy helps
them access a wider talent pool and allows them to employ more people in a various
remote location. Industries that arent customer and client driven can allow workers
information technology may operate on a 24-hour cycle, and needs staff day and night.
offer flexible time schedules to employees primarily to ease the traffic. Here are the
may enter into any of the arrangements with its employees. They may use compressed
workweek which under this arrangement, the normal workweek is reduced to less than
6 days but the total number of working hours per week is still 48 hours. For this to be
possible, each working day may have more than 8 hours but not more than 12 hours,
without incurring overtime pay. Another possible arrangement is the reduction of work
days where the employees may be required only to report for a few days each week for
are rotated or allowed to work alternately within the workweek. Forced leave another
possible alternative where employees may be required to go on leave for several days
or weeks using their leave credits. The broken-time schedule, under this setup, the work
schedule is not continuous but the total work hours within the week remain the same.
Lastly, flexi holidays where employees agree to avail of the holidays at some other days
Any flexible work arrangement is valid when the employee voluntarily agrees to it or
prior notice of the flexible arrangement is submitted to the Regional Office of the
Stress is the psychological and physical state when the resources of the
individual are not sufficient to cope with the demands and pressures of the situation. It
can undermine the achievement of goals, both for individuals and for organizations
(Michie, 2002). The workplace is an important source of both demands and pressures
causing stress. Increasingly, the demands on the individual in the workplace reach out
into the homes and social lives of employees. When stress persists, it can take a toll on
Americans who were displeased by what they considered the inability of Filipinos
to meet schedules put the phrase Filipino time together. Used to a more relaxed rural
life, Filipinos kept getting on the nerves of the officials and employees of the American
Occupation who were trained to observe more timing that is precise. Filipino time was
period allotted for a particular objective. Whether in the professional or personal setting,
a tardy person disrespects everyone else's effort to be on time (Pulich & Tourigny,
2004).
Filipino families, as described by Mendez and Jocano (1974), value blood and
marriage relationships. They also pointed out that biological ties are important and
and families have been observed to be closely-knit (Tarroja, 2010). In 2001, Medina
pointed out that the family is still the basic building block of most Filipino families. A
person can belong to one's family orientation and family of procreation. Family
why, we proposed Flexitime working arrangement so that these issues will later be
resolved. Aside from having these issues resolved, the Flexitime offers you variety of
company P34, 500 up to P37, 000 range for managers and professionals based on the
study conducted by Regus Company. It is so costly that the company could not afford to
loss many employees at the same time. Turnover costs include productivity losses
during training, recruiting and lost work while a position is vacant. For all jobs earning
less than $50,000 per year, or more than 40 percent of U.S. jobs, the average cost of
replacing an employee amounts to fully 20 percent of the person's annual salary, the
(cbsnews.com,2012).
Many companies have challenges with retention, particularly with the younger
team members. The new generation is demanding a different type of relationship with
their employer, one that is more focused on their needs, e.g., to contribute socially or
have reduced commute time to work. Understanding and accommodating the needs of
choice also increases retention by providing alternative ways of working to those who
may have considered leaving the company. This has substantial economic benefits
given the cost of turnover and disruption to client experience. Our attrition rate is 4.2%
Flexible working options in jobs would be beneficial, not only for potential employees but
also for employers as it will save them costs of fixed office work that requires mouth-
hiring and retaining top talent is an age-old priority for successful businesses, but not all
remaining competitive. Flexible working, which is lower cost than fixed office working,
offers the attractive perks of lower stress and better work, life balance to existing and
prospective employees, and provides a low -cost solution to attracting and retaining
those top workers. Its also striking how mainstream the perk of flexible working has
become, with many respondents actually choosing their jobs on the basis of flexibility.
Flexibility provides improved retention for individuals who might otherwise have left the
organisation. In some cases, it can also improve the calibre of talent available for the
job, as providing flexibility broaden the pool available. Flexibility also allows companies
to retain talent throughout times of economic hardship by offering options that can save
money while providing employees with time off or reduced working hours (Cooke,
2012).
Happier and more satisfied. Adapting Flexible work time schedule creates a happy
culture. To create a happy culture was to leverage mentoring and create a learning
and development environment. Everyone worked hard to meet the needs of their clients
and everyone participated in the fun times when they presented themselves. Allowing
the employees to choose of their own schedule is one way of creating happy culture
that leads to motivation to work. Based on Lawrence, D. (2016), having a happy culture
will result to decrease of employee turnover and employee productivity soared. The
organization became more customer focused and the culture spilled over into the lives
became a fun place to be as everyone welcomed the opportunity to learn and grow
together.
Hicks and Klimoski (1989) conducted a study about the impact of flexible time on
employees attitude. The results of which was employees working under a flexitime
schedule reported certain other improvements, including easier travel and parking, a
smaller amount of interrole conflict, a greater feeling of being in control in the work
ranged from 21 to 62 years, the average age was 36, and the median was 35. The
purpose of the research project was to see if commuters with flexible time had less
driver stress, less time urgency, and more commute satisfaction. During the experiment,
it is already noticeable that commuters with flexible time had lower driver stress and
time urgency than the commuters without flexible time, but they did not report
significantly different levels of commute satisfaction. This might be because most people
view any type of commuting negatively, and that modest changes in their commute are
not sufficient to eliminate its basic negative perception. Therefore, Flexible time lowers
driver stress levels and feelings of time urgency. The reduction in stress, in turn, leads
happy employees are 12 percent more productive than the average employee, and on
the other way around, unhappy employees are about 10 percent less productive than
the average employee (Lawrence,2016). Research shows that happy employees are
better decision makers, excel at managing their time, and possess other crucial
leadership skills.
said, 66% of line managers and colleagues considered that flexibility improved
efficiency and productivity. Also, other respondent from MTM products said, The vast
majority of employees appreciate the variety of work, and productivity has more than
Flexibility enables employees to operate in an environment that best suit their personal
program delivers financial gain for us in the form of increased productivity, regardless of
the weather. He also added that even when they experienced record-breaking snowfall,
employees were able to put in full, productive days from their homes, without stress of
flexitime, challenges are inescapable during the organizational implementation and use
thereof (Cooke, 2005). The use of flexitime as a policy, according to Fleetwood (2007),
Flexitime presents a compelling challenge especially for those that are in charge
1993). A common criticism of the use of flexitime is the loss of direct supervision of
employees who work non-traditional hours especially where work is in teams and
policies. It may also create a problem if issues arise without a supervisor to resolve the
problem. There is not enough responsibility for the prevention of problems, mistakes,
and accidents. Poor supervision removes a very important part of employee support,
informal and ill-conceived programs can have negative impact on businesses. Many
observers argue that businesses launch flexible work plans without adequate
preparation (Peak, 1994). In many cases, employers lack policies and procedures for
administering flexible work arrangements. The informal nature of these alternative work
hours can lead to inconsistency in the management of employees, decision making, and
An inadequately formed policy will not help clarify functions and responsibilities.
Critics also point out that the probable loss of employee connection for both
clients and colleagues is another threat to flexitime practice. The implications of which,
include reduced team efficiency (Fleetwood, 2007). Scheduling meetings, and getting
prompt answers to calls and emails suffer when employees are on varying work hours.
This could delay the progress on important projects (Skyrme, 1994). In addition,
flexitime could impact your relationship with customers, creating congestions when
to inadequate handling of important projects, this can cripple the companys capacity to
instances, supervisors coordinate their schedules with other supervisors. Some have
employees (Hedges, 2001). Keep the line of communication open with employees in
employees in understanding the use of flexitime. In addition, work place policy and its
influencing factors are likely to reduce negative perceptions surrounding the use thereof
implementing clear and definitive flexible working policies had a positive impact on staff
formal, legitimate, and objective business standards. It must be clearly articulated for
eligibility. Companies should create guidelines that address business needs and stand
up to tests of fairness and comprehensiveness (Peak, 1994). A policy can help ensure
consistency in how flexible working is discussed and handled. Furthermore, the policy
should be reviewed from time to time to ensure that it is achieving what it is designed for
(Skyrme, 1994).
the workplace. Companies should conduct conventions and assemblies that include
non-traditional employees so that they are not alienated from co-workers as well as
managers and excluded from information sharing (Narayanan & Nath, 1982). Adequate
communication within the work unit must be maintained. Adjustments can be made to
accommodate the changes brought by flexitime. Establishments have turned a potential
problem into an advantage by keeping quiet hours and come up with good results.
In some cases, establishments that operate in more than one time zone use flexitime to
While there are drawbacks to the use of flexitime, positive effects of flexitime
include improvement of the attitude and morale of employees towards work. Flexitime
has given employees a sense of pride that they are important to the company and that
management also looks after their welfare. Another advantage is that flexible work
hours can be an effective tool in reducing turnover and tardiness. Moreover, people are
most successful when they have the everyday flexibility they need to meet the demands
of their professional life and accomplish the things they identify as priorities outside of
their career.
Flexitime will be most applicable in the Philippines where being late is common
and normal. Its called Filipino time. It means being minutes to hours late compared to
standard time and things get done whenever they get done. This problem can be
addressed through the use of flexitime. It minimizes lateness among employees since
they can come any time within the allowable starting time.
In addition, to the Filipino people, ones family is the source of personal identity,
the source of emotional and material support and ones main commitment and
Flexitime is most helpful to Filipino employees since they will have some measure of
control over their work schedules, thereby making it easier for them to manage non-job-
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Philippines Press.
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changes
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7307-404f-8ac6-e8d3c2bc0f25%40sessionmgr4009&vid=1&hid=4202
Research Notes
people manage work and family responsibilities. (Staines, balance their work and family responsibi
week contains the contracted number of hours. (Miller, T., he explained that, Flexible work sched
hours (p.1).
Flextime is a generic term for work-hours programs that In this paper, we give much more
allow flexible starting and quitting times. (Lucas and Heady, definition given by Lucas and Heady (
Most flexible plans allowed employees to vary their Normally flexible plans permit employe
beginning and ending times as long as they worked the will be their beginning and ending tim
necessary hours per week and were working during core necessary work hours per week (usually
hours (usually 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.). However, a number have been complied. However, a nu
of variations existed. One example of flex time rewarded existed. One example of it is employees
employees who worked unpopular shifts: Employees were time if they worked twelve-hour nigh
considered full time if they worked twelve-hour night shifts Saturday, and Sunday. Just like the f
on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. These thirty-six hours who worked for 36 hours, flexitime w
were considered a full week earning full-time benefits. earning full time benefits. Allowing em
Another schedule allowed employees to work at home for home for part of the week, saving emplo
part of the week, saving employees on commuting costs costs while also, making them to functio
while allowing them to function at their own pace and and schedule as long as the work wi
schedule as long as the work was accomplished. Job another schedule in flexible time. Jo
sharing, another popular alternative, allowed two popular alternative, allowed two em
employees to share benefits and job responsibilities, giving benefits and job responsibilities, giving t
them the freedom to schedule themselves. (Miller, 2016). schedule themselves (Miller, 2016).
Based on a global research report from Regusthe worlds Hidalgo, V., a reporter from Inquirer New
companies in the Philippines are now offering flexible workplace solutions, who conducted glo
working hours to their staff. Companies are attesting that told that nine out of 10 companies in
they are now reaping the benefits of flexi time. now allowing flexible working hours
Among the benefits are improved self-productivity, reduced director of Regus also added that sev
balance. A little more than half of local firms point out that working hours have already reaped ben
flexible working hours cost less than fixed office working staffs have a better work-life balan
The research also discusses that flexible work brings about improvement in staff productivity. A
benefits not only from employer to employee but also to working businesses also state that thei
families to wider society and even to the environment. access a wider talent pool and allows th
Seventy five percent of businesses offering flexible working people in a various remote location. In
hours report that their staffs have a better work-life balance, customer and client driven can allow
an increased satisfaction and motivation. The survey also a certain number of hours a week.
flexible working businesses also state that their policy helps hour cycle, and needs staff day and
them access a wider talent pool and allows them to employ such as these, a flexitime schedule is
http://business.inquirer.net/1527/more-ph-offices-offer-flexi- http://business.inquirer.net/1527/more-p
time-to-staffs) time-to-staffs)
Under the Guidelines on the Adoption of Flexible Work Under the Guidelines on the Adoptio
Arrangements (Dept. Advisory No. 2, Series of 2009), Arrangements, employers may enter
employers may enter into any of the following arrangements arrangements with its employees.
the normal workweek is reduced to less than 6 days total number of working hours per week
but the total number of working hours per week is this to be possible, each working day m
still 48 hours. For this to be possible, each working 8 hours but not more than 12 hours
day may have more than 8 hours but not more than overtime pay. Another possible ar
12 hours, without incurring overtime pay. reduction of work days where the e
2. Reduction of work days: The employees may be required only to report for a few day
required only to report for a few days each week for maximum of 6 months. Rotation of w
a maximum of 6 months. alternative where employees are rotated
3. Rotation of workers: Here, employees are rotated or alternately within the workweek. Force
allowed to work alternately within the workweek. possible alternative where employees
4. Forced leave: Employees may be required to go on go on leave for several days or week
leave for several days or weeks using their leave credits. The broken-time schedule, un
5. Broken-time schedule: Under this setup, the work within the week remain the same. L
schedule is not continuous but the total work hours where employees agree to avail of the
within the week remain the same. other days as long as this arrangement
holidays at some other days as long as this Any flexible work arrangement is valid
(Department of Labor and Employment. (2009). Guidelines Department of Labor and Employment.
http://www.dole.gov.ph/fndr/bong/files/DA
Stress
Filipino time
Family oriented
According to Regus, recruitment is expensive which can As to hiring costs, recruitment of empl
cost a company P34,509 up to P37,000 range for managers which can cost a company P34, 500 up
and professionals. (Manila Times Net. Retrieved From: for managers and professionals bas
http://www.manilatimes.net/filipino-workers-start-favoring- conducted by Regus Company. (M
workers-start-favoring-flexible-options/70
For all jobs earning less than $50,000 per year, or more For all jobs earning less than $50,000
than 40 percent of U.S. jobs, the average cost of replacing than 40 percent of U.S. jobs, the avera
an employee amounts to fully 20 percent of the person's an employee amounts to fully 20 perc
annual salary, the liberal-leaning think-tank found in a study annual salary, the liberal-leaning think-ta
(cbsnews.com,2012). (cbsnews.com,2012).
Our attrition rate is 4.2% among traditional workers, Our attrition rate is 4.2% among
(Cooke,2012). (Cooke,2012).
Hiring and retaining top talent is an age-old priority for According to Henderson, J., in an interv
successful businesses, but not all companies can afford to News, explained that, hiring and retain
offer golden bonuses or mouth-watering salaries while age-old priority for successful busin
remaining competitive, Henderson said. (ManilaTimes.net) companies can afford to offer golden
the workplace. Employee turnover diminished and result to decrease of employee turno
employee productivity soared. The organization became productivity soared. The organizatio
more customer focused and the culture spilled over into the customers focused and the culture spille
employees, and more. The organization became a place and more. The workplace became a
that people desired to work for (Lawrence,2016) everyone welcomed the opportunity
together.
A summary of the results of the Research by Hicks and Hicks and Klimoski (1989) conducted
The same with the study conducted by Lucas and Lucas and Heady then support it in 2002
Heady(2002) wherein, we just collected key points of the experiment to employees, which is com
2002).
While happy employees are approximately 12 percent more It is estimated that happy employees a
productive than the average employee, unhappy employees productive than the average employee
are about 10 percent less productive than the average way around, unhappy employees are ab
fluctuations in workload.
transit options.