A man working at home on his laptop with his small children playing in the background, toys on the table, and a dog on the couch

Flexibility in
the workplace

Workplace flexibility can help your company attract and retain talent by offering a healthier work-life balance.

What is workplace flexibility?

Workplace flexibility gives employees more control over where, when, and how they work — allowing them to be more productive while helping them balance their professional and personal lives.

Types

Benefits

Challenges

Implementation

Common types of work flexibility

Work flexibility means more than just the occasional Summer Friday. You can offer many types of flexible working — though some may be better suited for your organization than others.

Remote work and telecommuting

When employees can usually or always work somewhere other than a physical workplace, you can hire from more locations.

Flexible working hours

By letting them choose which hours to work, flextime empowers employees who have commitments like childcare.

Compressed workweek

Employees work the same number of hours in fewer days (for example, 40 hours over four days instead of five).

Job sharing

One full-time job is split between two people, allowing them to work part-time hours while reducing absences and offering skill diversity.

Unlimited PTO

An unlimited PTO policy and a work-life culture encourage employees to take as much personal time as they need once their work is finished.

73%

of workers want flexible remote work options to continue after the pandemic.

Attracting, hiring, and onboarding remote teams

Get insights and tips from all-remote and remote-first companies to help you successfully build virtual teams.

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Benefits of workplace flexibility

Flexible work options can be powerful recruiting and retention tools that help your company compete for qualified people. Candidates increasingly look for these options, so if you don’t offer them, they may look elsewhere.

Build more diverse teams.

When employees can work from anywhere, proximity to the office doesn’t matter. That allows you to source from more diverse regions.

Attract candidates who might not apply otherwise.

Flexibility makes it easier for groups like caretakers, military spouses, and people with disabilities to thrive at your company.

Widen your talent pool with the largest working generations.

Many millennial and Gen Z candidates prioritize work flexibility during the job hunt because they expect a better work-life balance.

Show that your company trusts its people.

By giving employees more flexibility, you show them — and candidates — that you trust them to get their work done.

Minimize burnout and build loyalty.

Flexibility helps employees stay productive without burnout, which can lead to lower turnover, better morale, and good word-of-mouth.

12M

Dell has saved an average of $12 million a year with its flexible work program due to reduced office space requirements.

How to recruit and hire for a diverse talent pool

Expand your hiring and find candidates with diverse backgrounds using LinkedIn Talent Solutions.

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Challenges of workplace flexibility

You might experience a few growing pains when you begin adding flexibility to your workplace. But by following these proactive steps, you can enjoy the benefits of work flexibility sooner.

Offering the right type of flexibility

Speak to team leaders and employees to understand which programs would be more suitable and have the most impact.

Ensuring fairness and avoiding stigma

Aim for consistency so no one feels singled out when they need flexible work options or are not getting them.

Keeping everyone in the loop

Build strong lines of communication and a system for establishing everyone’s availability, such as calendar reminders.

Managing employees on different schedules

Break projects down into tasks that can be handled in stages, clarify expectations, and make resources accessible online.

Fostering a thriving culture without the watercooler

Use social channels and the occasional offsite to create opportunities for employees to come together and build connections.

70%

of managers say they’re more open to flexible models for their teams than they were before the pandemic.

The roadmap to virtual productivity

Check out this plan to help keep remote teams aligned, improve hiring quality, and manage the employee experience.

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Implementing work flexibility in your hiring process

Once you decide to offer your employees more flexibility, let candidates know about it. Many job seekers are either actively searching for flexible roles or simply want to know how you support your people.