Flexibility and the workplace: the battle to control working time

Seeks to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoints practical implications from cutting‐edge research and case studies.

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Success in business involves to some extent having a workforce flexible enough to meet changeable demands. But flexibility has become a two way process and employees, particularly mothers of young children, are increasingly requesting work arrangements that allow them to better balance work and home life. One survey revealed several reasons for employees wanting to reduce their working hours but “spending time with family” was the most popular. The difficult challenge, therefore, is to develop workplace policies that serve the interest of both employer and employee alike. Flexibility at work now takes various forms and includes such as job sharing, variable working time and telecommuting alongside conventional part time schedules. These arrangements vary across different countries and reflect the amount of control over working time that employer or employee enjoys in relation to when the work is done and the number of hours worked during a specific period.

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