6 types of flexible work arrangements for work-life balance

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Our experts

JOSH BORDER, associate director of sales and marketing, HR and secretarial support, Randstad Singapore

SHER-LI TORREY, career coach and founder of mumpreneur networkMums@Work

1. Work from Home

Best for: Writers, accountants, designers, field sales roles

What to note: You need high levels of self-discipline and self-motivation. Set deadlines and keep to them. And if you are working with a team, it is crucial to have clear communication schedules.

2. Hot-desking

Best for: All roles

What to note: In hot-desking, you don’t have your own desk or cubicle. You simply use whatever is available when you come into the office. So, if you work for a company that has multiple work sites that you need to be at, you could choose to head to the office closest to your home on the days where you’re not needed at the other locations. Being free to move around and sit in different areas in the office also means you’re likely to interact with others and increase collaboration.

Also read: 9 work rules to break if you want to be happy at work

3. Part-time Work

Best for: Almost any role, except if you’re required to meet clients on a frequent basis.

What to note: You need to figure out how much of the work can be split into segments. Also, make sure the workload matches the amount of time you can put in and be careful not to over-promise. Remember that your time is limited compared to a traditional work arrangement.

4. Compressed Work Week

Best for: Marketing, public relations executives

What to note: In a compressed work week, there are clear schedules that mix personal and work appointments. So on days you’re off, someone else on your team should be available to meet a client’s needs. Clients also need to be aware of when you’re available.

Also read: Beat stress with these 8 easy yoga poses

5. Working on a Project Basis

Best for: Designers, writers, copywriters

What to note: You have to allocate sufficient time for each project. And since income is not as stable as a standard or contract job, you need to budget well. You may also need to spend time soliciting for work if there is no middle person to help you secure projects.

6. Flexible Work Hours

Best for: Global and regional roles, employees with young families

What to note: If you’re in a global or regional role, you may need to be on standby for conference calls and meetings during odd hours of the day due to time-zone differences. Some employees also work completely different hours of the day as they work in tandem with other countries – for example, bankers who monitor the US or European financial markets.

This story was originally published in the May 2016 issue of Simply Her.