Whether it be caring for young children or an elderly parent or having a long commute to and from work, many professionals are struggling to find ways to manage their time while being productive in their Boston Careers. The ability for an employer to become more flexible with an employee’s work schedule can potentially increase productivity, boost energy and create a stronger sense of loyalty for the company.

With many companies forced to cut costs and tighten operations/ responsibilities, several employees are finding themselves forced to pick up the slack and take on a heavier workload. Although one may argue that an employee should be content to have a job these days and there is no need for special treatment, employers should take time to invest in their loyal, hard-working employees. Retention may not be as difficult with the economy as is, but the minute it turns, you will want to retain your A-team.

Unfortunately, this year, salary increases are not an option for many Massachusetts companies. Therefore, employers should look for creative ways to award their top performers who are looking for flexibility by creating a work-life model. In the long run, these employees will be more satisfied with their Boston Job and are likely to stay with a company that acknowledges their needs.

Alternative Work Arrangements:

Telecommuting – Technology, such as PDA’s, laptops, teleconferencing and VPN, enables employees to work from home for part of the week and still have the same access and capabilities as if they were in the office.

Compressed Work Week – Gives employees the option to work longer hours with more total days off during a week.

Permanent Part-Time Work – Allows employees to work 20+ hours a week while still receiving standard benefits package.

Job-Sharing – Agreement between two employees on a similar work schedule to focus on one goal.

Phased and Partial Retirement – Phased retirement gives senior employees the opportunity to reduce work hours over a set period of time. Partial retirement gives employees ready to retire the chance to work part-time with the organization.

Leave Time – Permits employees to take a leave of absence from career duties with no risk of losing employment rights.

Resources:

http://careerplanning.about.com/cs/flextime/a/flextime.htm

http://www.entrepreneur.com/humanresources/employeemanagementcolumnistdavidjavitch/article159440.html