When it comes to the most in demand workplace perks, 2017 is undoubtedly the year of flexible working. More and more employees are determined to strike a healthy work-life balance and as a result, policies such as Flexitime and Time off in Lieu (TOIL) are high on the agenda for many companies throughout the UK; despite reservations over a seemingly inevitable ‘can of worms’ anticipated in the aftermath!
Is flexible working the key to the retention of a highly motivated and productive workforce or is it ultimately, too much toil and trouble?
Throughout this post, we’ll be taking a closer look at Flexitime and Time Off in Lieu (TOIL), exploring the benefits for employees and employers alike. We will also touch upon some common fears with regard to managing flexible working policies before introducing the dynamic functionality of Ceequel® Time and Attendance Software.
Flexitime
An alternative to the traditional ‘9 to 5’ working day, Flexitime is a flexible working scheme designed to provide employees with more leeway to satisfy any ‘outside of work’ needs or responsibilities. Typically, start and finish times are adapted around a set of ‘core hours’ which employees spend at work, the outstanding contract hours must then be satisfied by the employee during pre-defined ‘Flexitime’ periods.
The Benefits of Flexitime – Whilst we’re all aware of the benefits for employees, avoiding the dreaded daily commute, greater freedom to carry out caring responsibilities or increased opportunity to enjoy hobbies etc; what’s in it for employers? Companies providing flexible working schemes often enjoy considerable improvements in workplace morale and productivity, along with reduced employee absenteeism and staff turnover rates. In addition, allowing employees to work from home, outside of normal ‘office hours’ could also lead to greater organisational cost-effectiveness and higher customer satisfaction.
Recruitment activities also receive a major boost with Flexitime proving to be an invaluable ‘USP’ when competing for top talent. According to a recent survey conducted by a leading UK recruitment site, not only is Flexitime the most desired workplace incentive; over 70% of respondents stated that a benefits package plays ‘a crucial role’ in their decision-making process to either accept or decline a job offer. However, despite the much publicised demand for Flexitime, an investigation carried out by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) revealed that only one in 10 job adverts actually mention flexible working opportunities!
Time Off in Lieu (TOIL)
Time off in Lieu (often aptly abbreviated to TOIL) is a work arrangement that sees employees receive paid holiday time rather than overtime pay in return for extra hours worked.
The Benefits of TOIL – Similar to Flexitime, the benefits of TOIL for employees is all about work-life balance. Those who are financially secure and therefore less concerned with receiving overtime pay, may like to enjoy a few long weekends throughout the year. For employers, TOIL presents a more economical alternative to paying overtime premiums, providing that adequate cover is available for staff.
Managing Flexitime and Time Off in Lieu
Unfortunately, the very mention of Flexitime and Time Off in Lieu can strike terror into the hearts of many an organisation, due largely to fears over: the sheer volume of administrative work involved, the complexities of collating data, susceptibility to human error and the threat posed by abusers of the system…
Are you having trouble with Flexitime or Time Off in Lieu?
Developed by award-winning Time and Attendance specialists ELF Productivity, Ceequel® is the ideal solution to manage flexible working schemes effectively. Not only is all employee attendance data collated in real-time and processed to the highest degree of accuracy; a multitude of clocking options are available for employees working off-site including: internet and email clocking, smart phone apps, dedicated landlines, USB clocking and GPS clocking. Ceequel® Time and Attendance also possesses the dynamic functionality to handle all employee holiday allocations, flexi-balances and any other company-specific rules or calculations.
If you would like to learn more about Ceequel® Time and Attendance Software, please contact ELF Productivity. Alternatively, a range of Ceequel® Software Suite brochures are available to download from our website. Please click here to view our downloads section.