Flexible working: Is this the way of the future?

New research claims that senior managers with flexible working arrangements out-perform those who work a conventional 9 to 5 day.

According to the British Psychological Society, arrangements such as job-sharing or working reduced hours lead to a huge improvement in performance.

Seventy per cent of those in the study showed more resilience, leadership and commitment.

If you have flexible working arrangements, has the experience been a success for you? Are flexible working arrangements the way of the future?

Its not just about creating flexible policies but having the positive culture that supports people by judging them on output not hours spent at their desk. What we need is employers to truly believe in the commercial benefits of flexible working so that business strategy rewards flexible practices.
Carol, UK

The Government needs to get real! Employees are being encouraged to demand the right to guaranteed pay and a full raft of employment and family rights in exchange for work if and when they feel like it. Employers are threatened with discrimination actions if they refuse part-time or flexible hours requests. The needs of customers, clients and employers come a poor second. Not many jobs which involve highly skilled project work are suitable for flexible working.
Robert Boyd, England

Most British management is still in the dark ages as far as working time issues are concerned

Peter, UK

The key problem with flexitime seems to be that senior management does not trust employees to operate it responsibly - surely a sign of outdated management attitudes. And why can't companies offer employees a variety of hours packages depending on what's most appropriate to their circumstances? I'm sure many workers would be prepared to trade hours for pay, either way, but they're just not given the chance. Most British management is still in the dark ages as far as working time issues are concerned.
Peter, UK

I have always been flexible with my employer. Early shifts, late shifts, night shifts. I then left the NHS as they thought flexibility was medical terminology and they said they'd get back to me. Also those with families get priority shifts and time off at Christmas and the Scottish New Year. I left just before New Year 2000 as they banned anyone taking time off. Give me a 9-5 anyday.
Elaine North, UK

Many employees work an 18 hour day

Chris, Japan (British)

In Japan where I now work, many employees work an 18 hour day and receive no extra compensation whereas others just sit at their desks for the required hours and do nothing at all. Often only the time cards are considered by management. However flexitime is being investigated especially in the IT sector.
Chris, Japan (British)

I would not work for a company that did not give me flexibility - I work from home about two days a week and that is perfect. I work as productively (if not more so) than anybody else in the office. Old style management needs to wake up!
Isobel Casey, UK

As always, it's not the hours you work; it's the work you put in the hours.
Mark M. Newdick, USA/UK

They are not actually contributing more

Gerry, Scotland

Surprise, surprise another survey finds that if people can balance home and work life properly they are more effective. Those who are at their desks from 7 in the morning until 8 at night are only there longer; they are not actually contributing more.
Gerry, Scotland

I have worked flexible hours for about the last ten years first in the UK and now in Switzerland. I find it to be a very positive way to work. The companies I have worked for have employed a "core" hours system whereby you must be in the office between 10am and midday and again between 2pm and 4pm. This doesn't mean that we all come in at 10 take a 2 hour lunch and then go home at 4pm, it means that those people who prefer to get in early and leave early can and those (like me) who like a lie in can get to work at 10am without being branded late. I believe this system benefits all employees by allowing an element of self-regulation and control in ones working environment. A system of flexible work hours allows people to fit their work into their lives and not the other way around, this makes for happier and more productive employees.
Peter, Switzerland(British)

Flexi-working is fine as long as job requirements are met. In other words, there should be a flexible approach to flexi-working, with honesty and trust between people. I think Will is wrong in making such a blanket assumption - there may be certain jobs that do not readily lend themselves to flexi-working, but there are many that do, and the benefits are proven. If only more companies would adopt it!
Norman K, England

I like flexible arrangements. Sometimes I'm in the office at 7:00, sometimes at 9:30, sometimes I work from home and in three weeks I start the 4 day week with a 3 day weekend. As long as neither the employer or the employee get short-changed it's the best system there is. I'm more motivated than ever and do not feel like a zombie anymore who slaves for his employer.
Volker, England (ex-Germany)

The only problem with flexi-time seems to be the people who object to it

Andy, UK

The only problem with flexi-time seems to be the people who object to it. The reason normally cited is that we are all (with the exception of the person complaining it seems) inherently lazy and will therefore take advantage of a more liberal approach to work hours. I would suggest that these outdated traditionalists with their patronising opinions stick to their 9 to 5 hours, as they obviously can't trust themselves, whilst everybody else can keep up with the rest of the world. Then we can see who achieves the most and, more to the point, who is happier.
Andy, UK

Currently I work 9-6 and I spend 4 hours a day commuting. By the time I get home everything is shut and so the evening is spent either going to the pub or TV. 90% of the time I'm too knackered to do anything other than lie face-down on the sofa. So, yes, I think flexi-time works!
WGS, UK

Our company has adopted what is known as a 9/80 schedule which, during each two week period, requires working 9 hours a day Monday to Thursday, working 8 hours on the first Friday but having the second Friday off. The resulting alternating three-day weekends are marvellous stress reducers and still allow the work to get done. Coverage is maintained by employees alternating Off Fridays. This is not, as Will, UK suggests, pandering to our weaknesses, but using the time to benefit both the company and the employee. Next Friday I will enjoy thinking of him slaving in his dark, dank, Dickensian workhouse as I relax on the deck in the sun. I work to live, not live to work.
Mark Rees (British), California, USA

Absolutely, otherwise I wouldn't have the flexibility to surf the web when I wanted!
Andrew Reid, London, UK

Flexible working should be available for all, but this is not an ideal world!

Sue D, UK

Flexible working is great and in an ideal world we should all be able to do it. However, this is not always possible with essential services as someone has to work the unsocial hours and cover for school and bank holidays. There is a lot of publicity about flexible and "family friendly" working practices but this openly discriminates against those who are single or have no children. Flexible working should be available for all, but this is not an ideal world!
Sue D, UK

Yes, Will is right. Nothing gets done very fast. Late in, early home and little to show for most days. This 'flexi' way of working does not work. Teams arrive offset from each other and co-ordination is out of the window. I have lived it for 3 years and now I want everyone back on 9-5 so we know when we can meet and get work done!
KJ, USA

I am a working mother with 2 schoolchildren. Until recently I worked at least 8:30-6:00 each day for a software house. Recently I moved to another company and now work school hours during term time only. Not only has my productivity improved, I have lost weight and am sleeping normally. As I am working on the same project as before, I can only assume that the reduction in 'working' hours has reduced my stress levels.
CH, England

I have friends who are now telecommuting, in the new arena of web server management. Whilst they can work from the comfort of their homes, their working days are now without structure. They often have to work until a problem is solved - perhaps until 5 or 6am. Then 10am.. and onward into another working cycle without a defined end point, working until exhaustion stops them. Waking when their strength returns. Working weeks are now 7 days long, and working days at least 12 hours. SO flexible working hours and practices such as telecommuting are a double- edged sword.
Stephen Martin, UK

Flexible working hours can be successful but tend to be a problem when there is a necessity to work as a team. If you depend on others to get work done and they work different hours, it requires much more discipline and control to ensure that the team unit can function.
Robert Kent, London, England

It isn't just about the money anymore

Emma, US

The worse experience I had as an employee was when I was sharing a position with someone else. Job-sharing can be great if you have some one you really trust, however if you don't then it doesn't work. Employers will have to start being more flexible if they want to keep employees. It isn't just about the money anymore. I'd rather have job that pays $35,000 that gives me a month vacation and allows me to work from home periodically, than earn $50,000 a year and have two weeks off, and have no flexibility.
Emma, US

I think that flexible working is a good idea, however, you have to apply some more control to it. There is always going to be the one who takes profit of such opportunity and try to work as less as he/she can. Some people cannot adapt to this system and we should we capable to recognise them.
Carlos, Spain

Some companies allow flexible working hours both at home and in the office, others are not so flexible. For it to work very well, the companies have to be well organised with well-defined work/tasks. Unfortunately being so well organised/structured is not always the top priority and all too often this means people have to be in the office.
The benefits for employers and employees are well proven - improved moral, better work... but all too many fear change and so continue to operate as before. The same fear is prevalent with regard to work sharing and so there is little possibility for contractors to work for more than one company at a time.
New Labour appears to be trying to reduce the numbers of flexible staff further with laws such as IR35.
Chris, Germany

I have been enjoying the relative freedom to organise my own time offered by flexi-time for around fifteen years. I am now a specialist within the organisation I work for, a unique non-managerial post in a company employing almost 250 people and that is due to expand to over 400 later this year.
I would like even more freedom to organise my own time. If, for example, an annual hours contract could be arranged and/or if I am allowed to work partly from home then I could use much of the time I currently "waste" at home being more productive both in my job and in my unpaid work.
CK, UK

Flexible working was once described to me as "unpaid overtime", as you work extra hours when the workload is high and take time off when the workload is light. People therefore invariably work "unconventional" i.e. late/early hours at no extra pay. Flexi-time does have its advantages of course - time off for picking kids up, taking them to school, and so on. So long as managers do not exploit their staff's willingness to work extra/fewer hours as and when it is necessary, flexi- time I believe is a good thing.
Allister, Barbados (ex UK)

Having worked both sides of this fence I can say flexi-time is much more civilised. It is rarely abused (as the scaremongers would have us believe) and so long as co-operation and guidelines are in place, almost any industry can offer it.
F Morales, USA (British)

I have virtually no stress at all

MN, UK

For years I worked 9 - 5 (well, more like 7 - 7) and didn't really get anywhere. I now work for a wonderful company, sometimes from home (pot of tea, cat on lap, Internet connection red hot), sometimes in the office, whatever hours suit and allow the work to get done. Even though I work the same if not more hours, it really doesn't feel like it and I have virtually no stress at all. After just 3 months I am to be promoted - I think this speaks for itself.
MN, UK

No way - it just pampers to our weaknesses - "I can't be bothered". What sort of society will that create? Good Luck America - I bet it's big over there.
Will, UK