In the midst of our ever-changing world, it’s not uncommon to find employers opting out of the stereotypical 9-5 workday and offering their employees a flexible work schedule instead, but would this benefit your family?
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The flexible work schedule
A modified or flexible work schedule can mean a number of things. Depending on your needs and those of your employer, it could mean you would be working from home one or more days a week, have flex days to schedule appointments or accommodate school schedules and holidays, have a compressed work week with extended daily work hours, take part in job sharing or have a variation in work start and end times.
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The pros
There are numerous advantages and disadvantages to working on an alternative schedule. Here are some of the advantages to consider:
- Less commute times and parking issues
- Less out-of-pocket expenses, such as for gas, parking, daily meals out and for having an extensive work wardrobe
- More opportunities to spend time with your family
- Possible increased personal productivity, as you might be able to choose to work during your peak performance times
- Efficient personal time management and more time to fulfill personal obligations, such as family commitments
The cons
Here are a few of the disadvantages to mull over when contemplating if a flexible work schedule is right for you:
- Less personal interaction with colleagues and less of a chance to network with others
- Possible difficulty in finding a day home or child care provider who can accommodate an alternative schedule
- Potential for longer workdays and extended hours, which can be physically and mentally draining
- Potential for fewer paid hours if your employer can’t work with your modified schedule
- Less of an opportunity to fulfill personal obligations during the work week
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