PERKS THAT WORK
FLEX APPEAL
YOU KNOW THAT AT LEAST SOME OF YOUR EMPLOYEES want to work from home. But do you know how important it is to their satisfaction and productivity? As flexible work options have become more common in recent years, many companies are finding out, with one survey of more than 1,000 companies showing that small businesses consistently provide flexibility at higher levels than their largest counterparts (the authors left out medium-size firms, but maintain that they fall
in between). Giving employees the flexibility they crave, it turns out, is not at all
hard to do—the improved company performance that comes with having a
satisfied work force sees to that. — SCOTT LEIBS, INFOGRAPHIC B Y KISS ME I’M POLISH
FLEXIBILIT Y GAINS GROUND
From 2008 to 2014, most forms of flexible work arrangements for at least some employees became more common. 2008 2014
FLEXIBLE STARTING AND QUI TTING TIMES CAN WORK FROM HOME ON OCCASION CAN WORK FROM HOME REGULARLY
79% 81%
43%
50%
67%
23%
38%38%
OPTION TO WORK LONGER HOURS ON FEWER DAYS
FLEXIBILITY AT A GLANCE
Most companies now make some flexible work policies available to all or most of
their workers. Consistently, however, small firms offer them more often.
SMALL EMPLOYER
50–99 employees
LARGE EMPLOYER
1,000+ employees
FLEXIBLE STARTING AND QUITTING TIMES
33%
20%
PAID TIME OFF FOR FAMILY OR PERSONAL NEEDS
52%
36%
CAN WORK FROM HOME ON OCCASION
11%
4%
CONTROL OVER WHEN TO TAKE BREAKS
66%
52%
CAN WORK FROM HOME REGULARLY
4%
2%
MAY GRADUALLY RETURN AFTER CHILDBIRTH OR ADOPTION
53%
37%
OPTION TO WORK LONGER HOURS ON FEWER DAYS CHOICE OF WHETHER OR NOT TO WORK OVERTIME
14%
5%
26%
15%
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