Question

Does a flexible work schedule help maximize employee contribution? Why or why not?

List examples of successful companies and the type of work schedules that they have (Yahoo vs. eBay).

Will broadening job functions help increase/decrease employee productivity? Explain.

Answer 1

A)Yes flexible work schedule help maximize employee contribution. Research shows that employees are healthier, experience less stress and are more productive and engaged when they effectively make choices about how,where and when they work.one way to do this is by responding to 'individual work styles'.

As a boss you can support your employees and create a high work performance culture by leveraging employee work styles.The following suggestions are as under:

1)FOCUS ON RESULT THAT MATTERS i.e be a good communicator of your expectations and define results accordingly.

2) PERSONALIZE IT i.e being a boss you must help employees to mesh their preferred styles and needs with their work reality as people work effectively in different ways some blend their work and family roles while others prefer to keep it separated .

3)LET THERE BE CHOICES i.e giving more choice how they control their working time will lead to grater engagement at work.

4) INVOLVE OTHERS IN MANAGING WORK PROCESS i.e leading individuals and team conversation and empowering employees to speak up make them feel accountable for the way work gets done.

B) Top successful companies work schedules are as follows:

1)CaseNex: a leader of EdTech field supports out of the box thinking and creative solution and offer it's employees in choosing how they gets things done.

2)Intel: it offers rich package of solutions, benefits and flexible work options to meet your needs at whatever life stage you are in.

3) Microsoft : It says ''whether you are an early bird or a late riser , flexible work hours allow you to work when you are at your best''.

4) Met Life: It recognizes the need for flexibility and mobility among workforce and offers flexible work arrangements.

5) Proctor and Gamble: As part of it's work life balance initiative Proctor and Gamble offers work from home, flexible scheduling and personal leave of absence program.

6) Yahoo vs ebay

Yahoo provide a grand work life balance to it's employees though eBay too provide flexible work culture but if we see overall Yahoo still have a greater edge over eBay.

C) Yes broadening job functions (job enlargement) help in increasing employee productivity because the objective of job enlargement is to motivate an employee by increasing his efforts and exposure towards increasing organizational objectives as set for the job.By doing this an employee can get a wide range of his or her objectives without his or her job in a repititious manner.