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Holiday Flexible Scheduling That Works for Your Business

In the last YES! Your Human Resources Solution blog, we talked about how to keep your employees motivated during the holiday season. Have you been working on your communication and celebration, while drinking that eggnog in moderation? If you’ve got those down, let’s look at the next step: flexible scheduling. Your employees will love the trust and control they get from a flexible schedule over the holidays, which will allow them to destress and spend more time with their loved ones. But there are a few things to remember from the business side of things.

Choose flexible scheduling that complements business operations. Unlike your favorite ugly holiday sweater, flexible scheduling is not “one size fits all;” it pains us to say not every business or position is suited to a flex schedule, even over the holidays. But where does your business fit? Your leadership team can determine this, keeping in mind business needs and goals and employee feedback. Can the business afford to—in finances and productivity—let employees flex over the holidays? And which departments and job roles are suited to flex schedules?
Set baselines and lay out options. Successful flexing is built around a fundamental schedule that keeps business needs at the forefront. These are your non-negotiable standards. For example, you might require employees to work a full 40-hour week and be present in the office every day from 9 a.m. to noon, but they can work the remainder of their hours from home. Or you might put employees on a 4/10. Or you might let your employees work “on call” the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. One schedule may not work for all employees or departments, so see which options will best suit each area, and solicit feedback after the season.
Codify everything in the employee handbook. You do review and update your employee handbook every year (at least), right? Now is one of those times! It’s important to record the new rules in your employee handbook, in case any questions or issues arise. What weeks are the holiday flex schedules active? What departments and job roles are on what schedule? Are there alternatives to following the flex schedules? Review the rules each year and update as needed.

If you’re ready to give your employees the gift of time this holiday season, flexible scheduling might be the answer. And if you need a bit of help figuring out those flexible schedules, you’re not alone! We’re here to help you discover the options that work best for your business. Contact us for a free consultation!

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