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{{short description|Flexible hours schedule in workdays}}
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'''Flextime''', also spelled '''flex-time''' or '''flexitime''' ([[British English|BE]]), is a flexible hours [[Schedule (workplace)|schedule]] that allows workers to alter their workday and adjust their start and finish times.<ref name="Gariety, B.S.">{{cite journal |last1=Gariety |first1=Bonnie Sue |last2=Shaffer |first2=Sherrill |title=Wage Differentials Associated with Flextime |journal=Monthly Labor Review |date=2001 |volume=124 |issue=3 |pages=68–75 |id={{Gale|A75434903}} |url=https://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2001/03/art4full.pdf }}</ref> In contrast to traditional<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1877/479.pdf |title=ADS Chapter 479 Hours of Duty |access-date=2014-11-06 |archive-date=2014-11-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107052044/http://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1877/479.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Wage labour|work]] arrangements that require [[employee]]s to work a standard 9{{nbsp}}a.m. to 5{{nbsp}}p.m. [[working day|day]], Flextime typically involves a "core" period of the day during which employees are required to be at work (e.g., between 11{{nbsp}}a.m. and 3{{nbsp}}p.m.), and a "bandwidth" period within which all required hours must be worked (e.g., between 5:30&nbsp;a.m. and 7:30&nbsp;p.m.).<ref name="Owen, John D.">{{cite journal |last1=Owen |first1=John D. |title=Flexitime: Some Problems and Solutions |journal=ILR Review |date=January 1977 |volume=30 |issue=2 |pages=152–160 |doi=10.1177/001979397703000202 |s2cid=154714704 }}</ref> The working day outside of the core period is "flexible time", in which employees can choose when they work, subject to achieving total daily, weekly or monthly hours within the bandwidth period set by employers,<ref name="Owen, John D." /> and subject to the necessary work being done. The total working time required of employees on an approved Flextime schedule is much the same as those who work under traditional work schedule regimes.<ref name="Owen, John D." />

A flextime policy allows staff to determine when they will work, while a [[flexplace]] policy allows staff to determine where they will work. Advantages include allowing employees to coordinate their work hours with public transport schedules, with the schedules of their children, and with daily traffic patterns to avoid high congestion times such as [[rush hour]]. Some claim that flexible working will change the nature of the way we work.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Thompson|first1=Melissa|title=How Entrepreneurs Can Attract And Retain Talented Millennials Who Prioritize Health|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/melissathompson/2017/02/20/healthy-ways-entrepreneurs-can-attract-top-millennial-talent/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222161432/http://www.forbes.com/sites/melissathompson/2017/02/20/healthy-ways-entrepreneurs-can-attract-top-millennial-talent/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 22, 2017|access-date=22 February 2017|work=Forbes}}</ref> The idea of flextime was invented by [[Christel Kammerer]] and [[Wilhelm Haller]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.csus.edu/indiv/h/heflintl/group/section-2/group-10/flex%20time.htm|title=New Page 1|website=www.csus.edu|access-date=27 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lebenshaus-alb.de/magazin/002480.html|title=Wilhelm Haller Obituary|website=Lebenshaus Schwäbische Alb|access-date=10 February 2019}}</ref> The [[World Health Organization]] and the [[International Labour Organization]] estimate that over 745,000 people die from [[ischemic heart disease]] or stroke annually worldwide because they have worked 55 hours or more per week, making long working hours the occupational hazard with the largest disease burden.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Pega |first1=Frank |last2=Nafradi |first2=Balint|last3=Momen |first3=Natalie |last4=Ujita |first4=Yuka |last5=Streicher |first5=Kai |last6=Prüss-Üstün |first6=Annette |last7=Technical Advisory Group |title=Global, regional, and national burdens of ischemic heart disease and stroke attributable to exposure to long working hours for 194 countries, 2000–2016: A systematic analysis from the WHO/ILO Joint Estimates of the Work-related Burden of Disease and Injury |journal=Environment International |date=2021 |volume=154 |page=106595 |doi=10.1016/j.envint.2021.106595 |pmid=34011457 |pmc=8204267 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2021EnInt.15406595P }}</ref>

== From practitioners' viewpoint ==
The industrial perspective of flexible working emphasizes the practical definition of flexibility. Employees being allowed to work from many different places as long as their level of production is maintained, if not increased.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Boucher |first=Peter |date=2013-04-15 |title=How flexible working can benefit you and your employees |url=http://www.theguardian.com/small-business-network/2013/apr/15/top-tips-to-allow-flexible-working |access-date=2022-12-06 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref> Moreover, research reports<ref>Institute of Leadership & Management, 2012. Flexible working: Goodbye nine to five, Institute of Leadership & Management website. [Online]. Available at: https://www.i-l-m.com/About-ILM/Research-programme/Research-reports/Flexible-working {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117023447/https://www.i-l-m.com/About-ILM/Research-programme/Research-reports/Flexible-working |date=2015-11-17 }}. Accessed 7 February 2015</ref> gave quantitative interpretation backed by statistical evidence showing the changing attitude of organizations in different countries (especially the UK) toward flexible working. An estimate of 50% of the companies in the UK started to consider flexible working as a common practice and 73% of the managers in the survey showed an ultimate support to it. On the other hand, employees showed great preference to flexible working to the point that 40% of workers in the UK choose it over their salary.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Attitudes towards working from home – Cezanne HR survey results {{!}} Onrec |url=https://www.onrec.com/news/news-archive/attitudes-towards-working-from-home-%E2%80%93-cezanne-hr-survey-results |access-date=2022-12-06 |website=www.onrec.com}}</ref> Also, greater focus was put<ref>{{Cite web |title=Flexible working better than bonuses |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/jobs/7786741/Flexible-working-better-than-bonuses.html |access-date=2022-12-06 |website=www.telegraph.co.uk|date=31 May 2010 }}</ref><ref>Hemsley, S., 2014. Flexible working: dads want choice. HR Magazine. [Online]. Available at: http://www.hrmagazine.co.uk/hro/features/1143166/flexible-dads-choice {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402010745/http://www.hrmagazine.co.uk/hro/features/1143166/flexible-dads-choice |date=2015-04-02 }}. Accessed 8 February 2015</ref> to explain the increased demand for such arrangements by both stakeholders by which it was clarified by their advantages of contributing to the high quality of output results while creating the "perfect" working conditions for workers.

Additionally, as seen recently, most business organizations have started to introduce flexible working patterns for their employees as a way to increase their productivity level, increasing profitability. Flexible working is also seen as a family-friendly policy, which leads to a "good [[work–life balance]]" for employees. Some examples of organizations with flexible working arrangement include Agilent technologies, NetApp and Qualcomm Inc.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stanger |first=Melissa |title=Companies That Offer Flexible Schedules Get More Out Of Their Employees |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/most-flexible-employers-according-to-payscale-2013-1 |access-date=2022-12-06 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref>

Flexible working arrangements is a way for organizations to expand and increase their operations nationally and internationally at lower cost compared to permanent or non-flexible working arrangements.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-10-25 |title=Top 10 Benefits of Flexible Work Policies for Companies |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/top-10-benefits-of-flexib_b_4158603 |access-date=2022-12-06 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}</ref> While both employees and employers acknowledge the benefits of flexible working, drawbacks might include extra expenses and responsibilities the organization could incur in order to provide these arrangements and the decreased benefits offered to employees in accordance with their reduced working hours.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Negatives of Flexible Work Schedules |url=https://smallbusiness.chron.com/negatives-flexible-work-schedules-1236.html |access-date=2022-12-06 |website=Small Business - Chron.com |date=20 June 2010 |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Empirical evidence ==
Flexible working was academically introduced in 1970{{citation needed|date=July 2021}} and since then this topic continues to be the interest of many research papers.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

For four decades, academic papers have contributed to the increased knowledge and interest in flexible working. A descriptive background of the evolution of the concept of flexibility as well as highlighting the main factors contributed to its growth were the main focus of academic studies.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lambert |first1=Alysa D. |last2=Marler |first2=Janet H. |last3=Gueutal |first3=Hal G. |title=Individual differences: Factors affecting employee utilization of flexible work arrangements |journal=Journal of Vocational Behavior |date=August 2008 |volume=73 |issue=1 |pages=107–117 |doi=10.1016/j.jvb.2008.02.004 }}</ref> Also, they deliver evidence of the significant amount and the ongoing increase in the use of flexible working in many countries.<ref name=Chung2019>{{cite journal |last1=Chung |first1=Heejung |title=National-Level Family Policies and workers' Access to Schedule Control in a European Comparative Perspective: Crowding Out or In, and for Whom? |journal=Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis: Research and Practice |date=January 2019 |volume=21 |issue=1 |pages=25–46 |doi=10.1080/13876988.2017.1353745 |s2cid=158186015 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

Studies examining access to flextime have shown that it is the high skilled/educated workers in higher occupational jobs, and supervisory roles that are most likely to have access.<ref name=Chung2019/><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Golden |first1=Lonnie |title=Flexible Daily Work Schedules in U.S. Jobs: Formal Introductions Needed? |journal=Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society |date=January 2009 |volume=48 |issue=1 |pages=27–54 |doi=10.1111/j.1468-232X.2008.00544.x |ssrn=988200 }}</ref> Unlike what many assume, women do not have better access to flextime arrangements, and female-dominated workplaces have worse access to flextime compared to workplaces where there are more men or an equal number of men and women.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Chung |first1=Heejung |title='Women's work penalty' in access to flexible working arrangements across Europe |journal=European Journal of Industrial Relations |date=March 2019 |volume=25 |issue=1 |pages=23–40 |doi=10.1177/0959680117752829 |s2cid=158083149 |doi-access=free }}</ref> Many studies examine the outcomes of flexible working. For example, a study by Origo and Pagani based on a sample of European countries, gave a deep analysis of the concept of flexible working by testing the level of heterogeneity in the effect of flexibility on job satisfaction, the study found some positive link with some aspects of the job while negative or no relation was found against other aspects.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Origo |first1=Federica |last2=Pagani |first2=Laura |title=Workplace flexibility and job satisfaction: some evidence from Europe |journal=International Journal of Manpower |date=12 September 2008 |volume=29 |issue=6 |pages=539–566 |doi=10.1108/01437720810904211 }}</ref> There is increasing evidence for the "business case" of flexible working. A meta-analysis of studies has shown that flexible working can provide a wide range of benefits for companies, including increase in performance, productivity, and reduction in absenteeism.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=de Menezes |first1=Lilian M. |last2=Kelliher |first2=Clare |title=Flexible Working and Performance: A Systematic Review of the Evidence for a Business Case: Flexible Working and Performance |journal=International Journal of Management Reviews |date=December 2011 |volume=13 |issue=4 |pages=452–474 |doi=10.1111/j.1468-2370.2011.00301.x |ssrn=1955099 |s2cid=143305758 |url=https://openaccess.city.ac.uk/id/eprint/8671/1/IJMR%200680%20Feb2011%20LdMCK.pdf }}</ref>

Flexible working can both prevent and create opportunities. There is generally a positive relationship between flexible working and perceptions of job quality in term of work–life balance, and helping to improve and control autonomy particularly for remote workers, but some factors such as opportunities for advancement will be negatively affected due to the variations on different dimensions of job quality.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kelliher |first1=Clare |last2=Anderson |first2=Deirdre |title=For better or for worse? An analysis of how flexible working practices influence employees' perceptions of job quality |journal=The International Journal of Human Resource Management |date=March 2008 |volume=19 |issue=3 |pages=419–431 |doi=10.1080/09585190801895502 |hdl=1826/4097 |s2cid=153442559 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> Flexible working has also been linked to increased recruitment and retention of workers. Chung and van der Horst<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Chung |first1=Heejung |last2=van der Horst |first2=Mariska |title=Women's employment patterns after childbirth and the perceived access to and use of flexitime and teleworking |journal=Human Relations |date=January 2018 |volume=71 |issue=1 |pages=47–72 |doi=10.1177/0018726717713828 |pmid=29276304 |pmc=5714156 }}</ref> have shown that the use of flextime significantly reduces the likelihood of mothers decreasing their working hours after childbirth and reduces the likelihood of first-time mothers leaving their work altogether. Flexible employment is one of the vital factors in the European Union policy discourse. It is a means to reduce unemployment, increase economic and social cohesion, maintain economic competitiveness and enhance equal opportunities between women and men.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Perrons |first1=Diane |title=Flexible Working Patterns and Equal Opportunities in the European Union |journal=European Journal of Women's Studies |date=November 1999 |volume=6 |issue=4 |pages=391–418 |doi=10.1177/135050689900600401 |s2cid=143173961 }}</ref> However, flexible working has some problems. Studies have also shown that flexible working can lead to an increase in overtime hours.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lott |first1=Yvonne |last2=Chung |first2=Heejung |title=Gender Discrepancies in the Outcomes of Schedule Control on Overtime Hours and Income in Germany |journal=European Sociological Review |date=December 2016 |volume=32 |issue=6 |pages=752–765 |doi=10.1093/esr/jcw032 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

== The European Commission ==
In 2017, the [[European Commission]] proposed a directive on work–life balance which includes the extension of the right to request flexible working arrangements (reduced working hours, flexible working hours and flexibility in place of work) to all working parents of children up to 12 and careers with dependent relatives. It also includes non-legislative measures, ensuring protection against discrimination and dismissal for parents (including pregnant women and workers coming back from a leave) and careers, the directive also encourages a gender-balanced use of family-related leaves and flexible working arrangements.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1311&langId=en | title=Work–life balance - Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion - European Commission}}</ref> The proposal was approved as Directive (EU) 2019/1158.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2019/1158/oj |title=Directive (EU) 2019/1158 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on work-life balance for parents and carers and repealing Council Directive 2010/18/EU |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2019-07-12 |website=EUR-Lex |access-date=2024-05-10}}</ref>

== United Kingdom ==
Haller founded a company in the UK in 1971 and registered the trademark "Flextime", the mark remains the property of the company's successor HFX Ltd. In the Spring of 2003, 17.7% of men and 26.7% of women were employed with flextime arrangements in the [[United Kingdom]],{{Efn|Sourced by the UK Office for National Statistics 2003}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/lms/labour-market-trends--discontinued-/volume-111--no--10/key-indicators-of-women-s-position-in-britain.pdf |title=Key indicators of women's position in Britain |access-date=27 January 2012}}</ref> In the United Kingdom, flextime working is commonplace in both the [[private sector|private]] and [[public sector|public]] sectors. The practice is often found in [[Business administration|administrative]] and back-office functions of commercial organizations and [[Local government in the United Kingdom|local councils]].

In 2003, the UK Government introduced legislation<ref name="legal">{{cite web |url=http://www.dti.gov.uk/employment/employment-legislation/employment-guidance/page35662.html |title=UK Department of Trade and Industry employment guidance |publisher=Dti.gov.uk |date=6 November 2009 |access-date=27 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090706222833/http://www.dti.gov.uk/employment/employment-legislation/employment-guidance/page35662.html |archive-date=6 July 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> that gave parents of children under 6, or the parents of disabled children under 18 the right in law to request a [[Labour market flexibility|flexible working arrangement]] from their employer. A survey in 2005 by the National Office of Statistics<ref name="A survey in 2005 by the National Office of Statistics">{{cite web|url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/lms/labour-market-trends--discontinued-/volume-113--no--7/families-and-work.pdf |title=ONS Survey 2005 |access-date=27 January 2012}}</ref> showed that 71% of female workers and 60% of male workers were aware of the rights created under the 2003 legislation. Between 2003 and 2005 more than 14% of all workers had requested a change to flexible working. Since April 2007 the right to request flexible working also applies to carers of adults.

On 13 November 2012, Deputy Prime Minister [[Nick Clegg]] announced plans to extend the right to request flexible working to all employees,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bis.gov.uk/news/topstories/2012/Nov/flexible-parental-leave |title=Reform of flexible parental leave|publisher=BIS |access-date=14 November 2012}}</ref> this legislation took effect in April 2014. Lawyers{{who|date=March 2021}} have suggested that this will lead to "major headaches" for employers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lewissilkin.com/Journal/2012/November/Changing-the-clapped-out-rules-on-flexible-working.aspx|title=Changing the clapped out rules on flexible working|date=13 November 2012|publisher=Lewis Silkin|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102145207/http://www.lewissilkin.com/Journal/2012/November/Changing-the-clapped-out-rules-on-flexible-working.aspx|archive-date=2 November 2013}}</ref>{{needs update|date=March 2021}}

Now being enforced by the law on 30 June 2014, industrial reports concentrate on workers' right to request for flexible working and how it is guided by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS). They explained how this code is designed to help employers, employees and their representatives to deal with disciplinary and grievance situations in the workplace.<ref>ACAS, 2009. Disciplinary and grievance procedures, ACAS website. [Online]. Available at: http://www.acas.org.uk/media/pdf/k/b/Acas_Code_of_Practice_1_on_disciplinary_and_grievance_procedures-accssible-version-Jul-2012.pdf{{Dead link|date=November 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. Accessed 7 February 2015.</ref>

Shift workers are generally excluded from flextime schemes as are senior managers.{{citation needed|date=January 2012}} Other groups of workers for whom flextime arrangements are rare include those who serve the public during specific opening times.

The advantages of Flextime for the individuals include a "better work–life balance", fewer commutes, less fatigue, more days off and lower sickness rates. The benefits for the company include better motivated workers, more efficient and effective operation, less fatigued workers and fewer errors; Flextime also gets' people working [[overtime]] hours without paying overtime rates, make fewer facilities required, and lower sickness rates.

For employers, flextime can aid the recruitment and retention of staff. It has been a particularly popular option in 2009 for employers trying to reduce staff costs without having to make redundancies during the recession. It can also help provide staff cover outside normal working hours and reduce the need for overtime. Additionally, flextime can also improve the provision of [[equal opportunities]] to staff unable to work standard hours.

Flextime can give employees greater freedom to organize their working lives to suit personal needs. In addition, travelling can be cheaper and easier if it is out of peak time.

== United States ==
In [[Florida]], flextime workers, like [[Wages|salaried workers]], are exempted from [[insurance]] regulations, and are given broad leeway in setting their own work schedule. Unlike exempted salaried workers, employers are still required to pay overtime to a flextime worker if they work more than 40 hours per week.

In recent years, the term "flextime" has acquired a more controversial definition when used to describe proposals to overhaul the nation's overtime regulations. Under one such proposal by the [[George W. Bush|Bush administration]] made public on 5 August 2004, employers would not be required to pay non-exempt employees' overtime for working more than 40 hours in a week so long as the employee works no more than 80 hours over a two-week period. For example, a worker could be required to work 70 hours one week and receive no overtime compensation as long as they work 10 hours or less the following week. Such arrangements are opposed by [[trade union]]s such as the [[AFL–CIO]].

In certain industries and disciplines, such as [[information technology]], flextime permits workers to vary their schedule. For example, they may opt to work [[four-day workweek | four 10-hour days per week]], taking Monday or Friday off. Another flextime schedule is to work nine-hour days Monday through Thursday, an eight-hour day on Friday, taking every other Friday off, called the "9/80 work schedule".<ref>
Belle Wong; Kelly Main.
[https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/9-80-work-schedule/ "What Is A 9/80 Work Schedule? Definition, Pros & Cons"].
2023.
</ref>
Some agencies of the United States government allow employees to work such a schedule, and designate it as an alternative work schedule (AWS).<ref>FEDweek, ''The 2014 Federal Employees Handbook'' (2013).</ref> Workers may arrange to coordinate their days off so that their responsibilities are adequately covered.

Other workers may opt simply to come in early, such as 5 or 6{{nbsp}}a.m., and leave in the mid-afternoon, or come in late and therefore leave late. One benefit of such a schedule is that commuting times occur outside of the congested [[rush hour]] traffic within a given geographic region. Flextime arrangements also help parents: one parent works 10{{nbsp}}a.m. – 6{{nbsp}}p.m. and is in charge of the children before school / daycare, while the other parent works 7{{nbsp}}a.m. – 3{{nbsp}}p.m. and is in charge of the children after school / daycare. This allows parents time to commute.<ref>{{cite web|author=Leah |url=http://www.momsrising.org/work |title=O: Open, Flexible Work |publisher=Momsrising |access-date=27 January 2012}}</ref> Flextime is also beneficial to workers pursuing an education.

== Australia ==
Flextime in Australia is usually referred to accumulated overtime hours that an employee can build up and exchange for the equivalent amount of time off. (Example: Jane works 7{{nbsp}}a.m. – 3{{nbsp}}p.m. Monday to Friday. Over the past month, Jane has worked 8 hours overtime meaning she is eligible for a paid day off.)

If employees accumulate too many flex hours, they are required to perform a "flex burndown", as they are burning down the flex. Similarly, taking a flex day off is known as "flexing off".

It is implemented formally in the federal [[Australian Public Service]] and is available for staff in most state and territory government departments. With current changes to industrial relations laws (2006), from State to Federal level there are no new published guidelines (online) for flextime.

== Recording working ==
There are many different methods used for recording working time ranging from [[Comparison of time tracking software|sophisticated software]] (computer programs) to handwritten [[Timesheet|time sheets]]. Most of these methods are associated with the payment of wages in return for hours worked. As a result, they often do not address a fundamental difference of most [[Labour market flexibility|flexible work]]ing systems – namely the intention of flexible working to allow an employee to "trade hours" with their employer in return for a fixed wage.<ref>{{Citation
 | last1=Hayward
 | first1=Bruce
 | last2=Fong
 | first2=Barry
 | last3=Thornton
 | first3=Alex
 | title=The Third Work–Life Balance Employer Survey: Main Findings
 | newspaper=UK Govt. Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
 | date=December 2007
 | url=http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file38388.pdf
 | access-date=8 December 2007
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910014115/http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file38388.pdf
 | archive-date=10 September 2008
 | url-status=dead
 }}</ref>

== Millennials ==
"[[Millennial]]" is the name most commonly used to describe those born between 1981 and 1996. As the right to request for flexible working is extended to all by law, many benefits are expected to rise. With Millennials becoming the interest of many organizations, flexible working attracts them.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-06-29 |title=Flexible working rights extended to all |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-28078690 |access-date=2022-12-06}}</ref> As ethnic diversity and high level of education are their main characteristics, it is seen that Millennials are more likely to change their jobs more than the previous generation for economic reasons. Additionally, due to the delay in the retirement of baby boomers' generation, gaps in workforce were created, waiting for the Millennial generation to fill them.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Millennial Takeover {{!}} Visual.ly |url=https://visual.ly/community/Infographics/business/millennial-takeover |access-date=2022-12-06 |website=visual.ly |language=en}}</ref>

== Advantages and criticisms ==
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Flexible working is a pattern of working arrangements that enable employees to decide the time, duration, and location of their work.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-10-25 |title=Top 10 Benefits of Flexible Work Policies for Companies |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/top-10-benefits-of-flexib_b_4158603 |access-date=2022-12-06 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}</ref> Flexible working patterns have gained the interest of both academics and industrial practitioners for some time,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Baltes |first1=Boris B. |last2=Briggs |first2=Thomas E. |last3=Huff |first3=Joseph W. |last4=Wright |first4=Julie A. |last5=Neuman |first5=George A. |title=Flexible and compressed workweek schedules: A meta-analysis of their effects on work-related criteria. |journal=Journal of Applied Psychology |date=1999 |volume=84 |issue=4 |pages=496–513 |doi=10.1037/0021-9010.84.4.496 }}</ref> with implementation into law in certain countries as far back as 1930, but also in recent years. Existing literature highlights the fundamental importance of flexible working to both academics and organizations as a means of establishing a good work–life balance for employees. Work–life balance for employees is theorized to increase employee efficiency, which in turns leads to increase in productivity of the organization.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Silla |first1=Inmaculada |last2=Gracia |first2=Francisco J. |last3=Peiró |first3=José María |title=Job Insecurity and Health-Related Outcomes among Different Types of Temporary Workers |journal=Economic and Industrial Democracy |date=February 2005 |volume=26 |issue=1 |pages=89–117 |doi=10.1177/0143831x05049404 |s2cid=53476512 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Guest |first1=David |title=Flexible employment contracts, the psychological contract and employee outcomes: an analysis and review of the evidence: Flexible employment contracts, the psychological contract and employee outcomes: an analysis and review of the evidence |journal=International Journal of Management Reviews |date=March 2004 |volume=5-6 |issue=1 |pages=1–19 |doi=10.1111/j.1460-8545.2004.00094.x |s2cid=53482607 }}</ref> This would also be suggested from research on the decreasing returns of working hours.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Cette |first1=Gilbert |last2=Chang |first2=Samuel |last3=Konte |first3=Maty |title=The decreasing returns on working time: an empirical analysis on panel country data |journal=Applied Economics Letters |date=November 2011 |volume=18 |issue=17 |pages=1677–1682 |doi=10.1080/13504851.2011.558473 |s2cid=218639264 |url=https://publications.banque-france.fr/sites/default/files/medias/documents/working-paper_315_2011.pdf }}</ref>

Academic literature has identified benefits of flexible working patterns to employees including [[life satisfaction]], better wellbeing, a good work–life balance,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stanger |first=Melissa |title=Companies That Offer Flexible Schedules Get More Out Of Their Employees |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/most-flexible-employers-according-to-payscale-2013-1 |access-date=2022-12-06 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref> and health benefits<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Joyce |first1=Kerry |last2=Pabayo |first2=Roman |last3=Critchley |first3=Julia A |last4=Bambra |first4=Clare |title=Flexible working conditions and their effects on employee health and wellbeing |journal=Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |date=17 February 2010 |volume=2010 |issue=2 |pages=CD008009 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD008009.pub2 |pmid=20166100 |pmc=7175959 }}</ref> but some researchers argue that although there are such benefits, there are some negative effects such as [[work intensity|work intensities]], job insecurities associated with the flexible working arrangement. Research works such as Evans et al., (2000) also highlight that flexible working pattern may not be applicable to all occupational fields, the authors also highlighted medical professions (doctor, pharmacist, nurse, etc.) as one of such fields.<ref name=Evans2000>{{cite journal |last1=Evans |first1=Julie |last2=Goldacre |first2=Michael J |last3=Lambert |first3=Trevor W |title=Views of UK medical graduates about flexible and part-time working in medicine: a qualitative study |journal=Medical Education |date=May 2000 |volume=34 |issue=5 |pages=355–362 |doi=10.1046/j.1365-2923.2000.00620.x |pmid=10760119 |s2cid=27223681 }}</ref> A further critique is that some patterns of work deemed "flexible" such as a compressed work week may be put forward by the employer, rather than suiting the individual employee, and thus may not capture the same benefits as employee-chosen flexible working.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hyatt |first1=Edward |last2=Coslor |first2=Erica |title=Compressed lives: how 'flexible' are employer-imposed compressed work schedules? |journal=Personnel Review |date=5 March 2018 |volume=47 |issue=2 |pages=278–293 |doi=10.1108/PR-08-2016-0189 |hdl=11343/191878 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>

Industrial sources also have been able to highlight one of the positive effects of flexible working patterns as being able to attract highly qualified professionals, but Brookins<ref>{{Cite web |title=Negatives of Flexible Work Schedules |url=https://smallbusiness.chron.com/negatives-flexible-work-schedules-1236.html |access-date=2022-12-06 |website=Small Business - Chron.com |date=20 June 2010 |language=en-US}}</ref> established some negative effects flexible working patterns had to employers as it adds expenses and responsibility in the organization, negative availability perspectives of employees on the customers, and employee availability.{{better source needed|date=December 2015}}

Both academics and industrial sources were established that in some professions flexible working arrangement may not be available or its availability will have a negative perspective on employees by others with a non-flexible arrangement, example of such profession is medical professions. A research done by Evans et al., (2000) on flexible working patterns on medical professions emphasized how some medical doctors may attribute negative perception with colleagues with flexible working patterns.<ref name=Evans2000/> In 1930, Employees in the United Kingdom were given the right to request for flexible working arrangements, but there were no instructions or guidelines on the way for this would work. Flexible working concepts are also a relatively new form of working arrangement and this has limited its application in other parts of the world such as a country in Africa.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

Flexible working patterns is a working arrangement that enable employees to determine the duration, time and location of their work. It has been seen both by academics and industrial sources to have benefit including increase of work–life balance for employees, which in turns leads to increase in productivity for the employer or organization. Organizations hoping to adopt this form of working pattern for its employee should conduct research on how flexible working patterns can be successfully conducted, thus avoiding some of the expenses and pitfalls existing research has linked to flexible working practices.

== Flexible working time accounts ==
Flexible working time accounts are also known as deposited working-time accounts or work bank account systems. It is derived from the German Federal Labor Government's reform program, which was passed by the German Federal Government on 21 August 2002. Then Federal Chancellor, [[Gerhard Schröder]], announced that the program would invite the former Director of Human Resources Management of [[Volkswagen]], Peter Hartz, chaired the Labour Market Reform Committee. This program's goal is to make the rigidity of the labor system more flexible and to change the old social welfare policy, in order to lighten heavy financial burden.<ref name="cw.com.tw">{{cite news|url=http://www.cw.com.tw/article/article.action?id=5027075#sthash.hpea61Yo.dpuf|title=德國 十年變革，重回第一｜國際｜2011-10-04｜天下雜誌第482期|newspaper=天下雜誌 }}</ref>

===Definitions===
The concept of flexible working time accounts is to establish labor-self accounts, and laborers can save their working hours, just like saving money, into their own accounts. The working hours in their accounts are their assets, so that employers and workers on both sides can increase or decrease the work required by each other without affecting salaries or welfare. While achieving the purpose of flexible labor, the account-system may be short-term, long or permanent for the convention.<ref name="cw.com.tw"/>

===Characteristics===
{{unreferenced section|date=February 2020}}
A flexible working time account system has the following four characteristics:
# Flexible working time accounts shall be calculated for a period of at least one year.
# The calculation of a long-term account system is usually based on time and money. Occasionally, things may be passed on from other laborers' accounts. The situation is only applicable to short-term working time.
# When using long-term working time accounts, there are two features that can be used for classification:
## Optional long-term accounts are mostly used in the period that laborers are still holding a post in their own company. Laborers can withdraw from accounts after negotiating with employers, usually due to laborers' personal needs.
## Age-related long-term accounts can be used late into a laborer's career, when they prepare for early retirement, semi-retirement, or conventional retirement.
# Unlike the short-term account system, there is the lowest-limit standard of withdrawing hours. However, standards are set in accordance with the differing demands of laborers.

== See also ==
{{Portal|Organized labour}}
* [[Effects of overtime]]
* [[Equal employment opportunity]]
* [[Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938]] (United States)
* [[Four-day workweek]]
* [[Labour economics]]
* [[Labour market flexibility]]
* [[Office for National Statistics]] (UK)
* [[Remote work]]
* [[Time clock]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Wiktionary|flexitime}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060926083116/http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=630&articleaction=print Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service (2006) 'Flexible working hours']
* {{cite journal |last1=Khan |first1=Ali |title=Essay: Islamic Flextime |date=November 2006 |doi=10.2139/ssrn.943323 |ssrn=943323 }}
* [http://www.workforce.com/articles/the-legalities-of-flextime The Legalities of Flextime]
* {{cite book |title=Reconciling labour flexibility with social cohesion – Facing the challenge |date=November 2005 |series=Trends in social cohesion, No. 15 |publisher=Council of Europe |isbn=92-871-5813-4 |url=http://www.coe.int/t/dg3/socialpolicies/socialcohesiondev/source/Trends/Trends-15_en.pdf }}
{{Employment}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Working time]]
[[Category:Human resource management]]
[[Category:Labor history]]
[[Category:Work–life balance]]