The economic downturn has forced many companies to reduce expenses and the level of benefits they provide to employees. To offset the sting from cuts to benefits programs, an increasing number of companies are offering flexible work arrangements to enhance work/life balance, improve morale and prevent the loss of valuable employees.
Results from a recent Culpepper Benefits Survey reveal that 90 percent of companies offer one or more flexible work arrangements to employees.
Flexible work arrangements include a variety of different alternative work schedules and programs to promote work/life balance, including telecommuting, flexible work hours, compressed workweeks, part-time employment, phase-back from maternity leave, phased retirement, job sharing and seasonal schedules.
Across most job levels, telecommuting and flextime are the two most common flexible work arrangements (see Figure 1 and Table 1).
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Table 1: Percent of Companies Offering Flexible Work Arrangements by Job Level | ||||
Executives | Manager-level employees | Professional-level employees | Hourly and non-exempt employees | |
Telecommuting / teleworking | 57% | 68% | 72% | 33% |
Flextime (flexible work hours) | 56% | 65% | 69% | 49% |
Part-time employment | 16% | 31% | 50% | 42% |
Compressed workweeks | 18% | 18% | 26% | 25% |
Phase-back from maternity leave | 13% | 17% | 19% | 12% |
Job sharing | 2% | 2% | 7% | 8% |
Seasonal schedules | 6% | 5% | 5% | 6% |
Phased retirement | 7% | 7% | 5% | 3% |
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Data source: Survey dates: Breakdown by sector:
Breakdown by number of employees:
Breakdown by Ownership/Corporate Status:
Breakdown by Country:
|
Culpepper and Associates conducts worldwide salary surveys and provides benchmark data for compensation and employee benefit programs.
Reposted with permission
Source: Culpepper Benefits Surveys, June 2009.
Related Resources:
- Managing Flexible Work Arrangements, SHRM Online Research, April 2009
- Flexible Work Arrangement Agreement, SHRM Online HR Forms
- Creating a Flexible Workplace, SHRM Online HR Education, 2008
- Webcast: Flexible Work Arrangements, SHRM Multimedia, February 2009
Quick Link:
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