Glossary

A flexible work schedule is an arrangement that allows employees to work outside of the traditional 9-to-5 workday or workweek. It may involve flextime, telecommuting, part-time work, job sharing, or other variations.

Flextime refers to a work schedule that allows employees to vary their start and end times within a set range of hours, while telecommuting enables employees to work from home or other locations outside the office. Part-time work involves working fewer hours than a standard workweek, while job sharing allows two employees to share a single full-time position.

A flexible work schedule can offer numerous benefits to both employees and employers. It can help employees achieve a better work-life balance, reduce stress and burnout, and increase job satisfaction. For employers, it can increase productivity, reduce absenteeism, and attract and retain top talent.

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of flexible work schedules, as remote work and other flexible arrangements have become more prevalent and necessary to maintain business operations.

A flexible work schedule can be a flexible work policy that an employer sets for employees. A flexible work schedule is an alternative to the more common 9 to 5, 40-hour workweek that most employees are familiar with. As each person works differently, it might not always be necessary for someone to come into the office for 8 hours a day. Each organization may differ based on needs when it comes to how flexible work schedules are set up.