Modern Employment Terms: (1) Flexibility

In practice, we see that many employees want flexibility. Employees who experience greater autonomy over where and when they work are generally more productive and satisfied. Traditional work models (read: being in the office from 9 to 5 every day) are no longer appealing. How can you adapt to this?

Flexible Working Hours

For many jobs, it’s not necessary for employees to work strictly from 9 to 5. Some employees appreciate the opportunity to drop their children off at school. Others work more efficiently early in the morning or late at night. Some might even prefer using their lunch break to exercise. If this helps your employees work more efficiently, it’s wise as an employer to recognize and, where possible, facilitate this. You can, for instance, agree on specific times when employees must be available, such as for team meetings.

Are you dealing with shift schedules (e.g., in healthcare)? Then make every effort to accommodate employee preferences as much as possible when creating the schedule.

Hybrid Working

Being flexible about the workplace is another increasingly important factor for employees. Working from home is a great example. It gives employees more flexibility to balance their personal lives with work. Additionally, some employees are more productive at home because they are less distracted by colleagues. However, ensure your employees have a proper and safe home office setup, as your duty of care as an employer also extends to remote workplaces. Would you like your team to meet in person regularly? Schedule a fixed day for the team to work together at the office. By alternating days with other teams, you may also require fewer workstations at the office.

And working abroad? The concept of “Digital Nomads” is becoming increasingly common. Working from a camper van or a scenic spot in Spain. And why not? While this isn’t feasible for every organization, many companies can make it work. You can establish clear agreements, such as:

• Locations within a specific time zone: This ensures employees remain available during time slots critical to your organization.
• Availability during specific time slots: Employees can choose their location as long as they are available during the agreed hours. Whether this means they work in the evening is up to them.
• A limited duration: For example, a two-month period allows both parties to assess whether working abroad is viable. A short timeframe also helps avoid tax and social security complications related to working abroad.

Additionally, as an employer, you must ensure robust technological infrastructure, such as secure access to the company network from remote locations. Stay connected with employees by occasionally scheduling a Teams meeting to check in.

Sabbatical

Allow employees to take several weeks or months of (unpaid) leave. During this time, employees can travel, pursue education, focus on family, or engage in other activities that are important to them at that moment. By offering this flexibility, employees won’t feel the need to quit their jobs to take a break, allowing you to retain valuable team members.

You can outline the conditions for taking a sabbatical in a policy, such as permitting employees to take a sabbatical once every few years for a specific duration. Tailor this to what is feasible for your organization.

Tips

• Create a clear policy. This helps employees understand the boundaries of flexibility and what is expected. Think about requirements like minimum office presence or availability during specific hours.
• Involve employees in drafting a flexible work policy. Listen to their needs and ensure it aligns with their priorities while fitting the organization’s framework.
• Regularly evaluate the policy with employees. For example, discuss remote work abroad to assess its effectiveness and make necessary adjustments.

If you have further questions relating to modern employment terms, please contact Sietske Bos, attorney at law, Employment, specialized in modern employment terms.

Blog Series on Modern Employment Terms

• Flexibility

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