6 types of flexible work arrangements for work-life balance
A HR expert and career coach tell us what special work arrangements are available, and which industry is suitable for which.
By Kayce Teo -
Photo: 123rf.com
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.