Kinds of Flexible Work Arrangements
Flexible Work arrangements is just one of the many ways that an employer can offer to the staff to achieve work-life balance. Below are some of the common flexible work arrangements that an employer can adopt:
Flexible hours
Flexi-time refers to the arrangement such that employees can vary their daily start and end times to suit their work and personal commitments. Typically, there is a core time, say 10am till 4pm, which must be worked. There is usually an accounting period, usually a week or a month, within which the full number of hours is worked but where the employee has discretion about when those hours are worked. In some cases, excess of deficit hours can be carried over to the next accounting period.
Part time work options
Part-time work refers to the arrangement in which employees work reduced hours on a regular basis. Part-time employees normally work less than 35 hours in a week and include those who work half-days all week or only some days per week. Typically, organisations employ part-time employees to achieve flexibility of cover, for example, peak workloads or when work needs to be done only at particular times. Increasingly, employers are offering opportunities to women to return to work on a part-time basis after maternity leave or allow employees to work on a part-time basis leading up to retirement.
Work from home / Telecommuting
Telecommuting refers to an arrangement where the job is performed at a location other than the workplace using information and communication technologies. Telecommuting, or teleworking, may be on a situation or episodic basis, i.e. need-based, especially during emergency situations or unforeseen circumstances, or core, i.e. routine, regular and recurring basis one or more days a week.
Freelance Work
Freelance work can be loosely classified as an independent workerwho is not committed to a particular employer long term. Freelance practice varies greatly. Some require clients to sign written contracts, while others may perform work based on verbal agreements, perhaps enforceable through the very nature of the work. Some freelancers may provide written estimates of work and request deposits from clients.
Payment for freelance work also varies greatly. Freelancers may charge by the day, hour, or page or on a per-project/commission basis
