The 9 to 5 workday, an arduous commute, limited vacation days, the need to request personal time to see the doctor or attend a school play — just a few years ago, these rigid and restrictive features of the working life seemed inevitable.
But in the aftermath of the COVID pandemic and motivated by the priorities of younger working generations, the shape of work in the 21st century is rapidly evolving to allow more flexibility than ever before.
At the height of the pandemic, the portion of American white-collar employees working from home rose from just 6% to 65%, creating what the New York Times called “a two-year, 50-million-person experiment in changing how we work.” For many businesses, the experiment was a success, resulting in increased productivity, engagement, and retention, not to mention lower real estate costs.
As the data accumulates about remote work and flexible scheduling, it’s also becoming more and more apparent that allowing employees to control where, when, and how they work can help them live healthier, more balanced lives. Workplace flexibility is an essential and (in many cases) affordable way to support employee wellness.
If you don’t believe us, believe your employees. When asked for the American Psychological Association’s 2022 Work and Well-Being Survey to list the mental health supports they want from their employers:
- 41% of workers said flexible work hours
- 34% said a workplace culture that respects time off
- 33% said the ability to work remotely
- 31% said a four-day workweek
More than on-site gyms, workout challenges, and a break room stocked with nutritional snacks, employees believe flexibility will help them achieve their wellness goals. And the evidence supports them.
Below are just a few of the many wellness benefits of offering flexibility in the workplace.
Related: 23 Must-Have Ideas for Your Employee Wellness Program in 2024. Read it here →
Stress Reduction
Work is stressful enough with constant deadlines, a never-ending stream of emails to keep up with, and the pressure to produce. But it’s not just the work elevating employee stress to record highs.
Long, aggravating commutes and the competing demands of a busy personal life (childcare, eldercare, personal health issues, outside interests, continuing education, hobbies, and so on) can make work-life balance seem out of reach for many. Flexible work gives employees their time back — an average of 72 minutes per day, according to one study. So, instead of sitting in traffic for two hours each day, your employees can pick their children up from school, weed the garden, or simply unwind with a good book.
Remote and hybrid work can help reduce work-related stress as well. Mental Health America survey respondents said remote work would help them:
- Improve productivity by reducing distractions (75%)
- Experience fewer interruptions from coworkers (74%)
- Avoid office politics (65%)
- Maintain a quieter (60%), more comfortable (52%), personalized (46%) work environment
More Exercise and Better Sleep
Maybe you’ve used this excuse yourself: “I just don’t have time to exercise.” Modern life is jam-packed, and exercise can quickly fall to the bottom of our priorities list. When we finally have a few minutes for a yoga class or a quick jog, many of us are too drained of energy to get moving.
Flexible work can help employees develop and maintain exercise habits by eliminating commutes and letting employees plan their own schedules. For example, instead of postponing their workout to the evening, when they must overcome fatigue, workers can plan to exercise first thing in the morning, when they would otherwise be crawling through traffic.
Flexible work has also allowed the world’s sleep-deprived workers to spend more time in bed. Poor sleep is associated with numerous physical and mental health issues, along with decreased production and engagement at work.
A time-use survey revealed that across all demographics when people gain time from flexible and remote work, they invariably use it to get more sleep. One remote worker proudly proclaimed that she wakes up at 8:59 a.m. and starts work one minute later, pointing out that “if you’re not wired to be a morning person, there’s nothing to gain by trying to fight nature.”
Increased Job Satisfaction and Less Potential for Burnout
When work feels like the dominant force in our lives — or perhaps, the only force — it doesn’t matter how much we care about our career fields. This is a recipe for stress, disengagement, and, eventually, burnout.
While burnout is not strictly a mental health diagnosis, it is associated with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and addiction — and it is on the rise worldwide.
Workers with flexibility have an easier time putting work into its proper place as one aspect of a multifaceted existence. This, in turn, helps them appreciate their jobs more.
According to a major study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health:
- Working at home increased the likelihood of job satisfaction by 67%
- Taking time off doubled the likelihood of job satisfaction
- Changing one’s schedule increased the likelihood of job satisfaction by 60%
While it’s too soon to tell whether flexible working arrangements will take a significant bite out of burnout, the initial data is promising. For example (according to Future Forum Pulse’s survey of more than 10,000 desk workers):
- 53% of employees dissatisfied with the flexibility in their workplaces say they are burned out (compared with a burnout rate of 37% among those satisfied with their flexibility).
- Employees who are unable to shift their work schedules are 26% more likely to say they’re burned out.
Flexibility: A Must-Have Wellness Benefit
As established above, flexible working arrangements, including remote work, hybrid work, and unlimited vacation, give employees time and space to improve their physical health, de-stress, and build supportive relationships.
Employees today want to be seen and cared for as individuals, and flexibility is one way to demonstrate to employees (and job seekers) that your company recognizes and values their wellbeing. As with other wellness benefits, flexibility pays dividends for employees and employers, helping to build a healthier, more sustainable, and more satisfying working life for all.
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