More Frequently Asked
Questions
How do we ensure the company culture advances
with, and benefits from, our work/life programs?
Your flexible workplace needs to be systemic and holistic, not just
programmatic. This is accomplished by integrating the spirit, intent,
and practice of the programs you choose for your employees into every
part of the organization:
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Leadership: let your concern for your employees’
lives and needs, and your commitment to diversity and flexibility,
be present and visible in your organization’s stated vision,
goals, and values. Recognize and reward senior management for encouraging
and modeling the new policies and procedures: consider the
strength of the message when a vice president chooses a flex time
schedule in order to care for an aging relative; or when a director
teleworks from New York 5 days a month in order to pursue an executive
MBA.
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Infrastructure: Build clear, consistent policies.
Articulate and document forms and procedures to simplify startup,
tracking, and reporting. Create a support system for managers and
employees to seek creative applications and resolve problems. Communicate
successes inside and outside the company.
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Performance management: When integral change is
initiated within an organization, the people managers carry the
greatest weight and responsibility for success. Share with them
the business imperative of a flexible workplace, and give them the
training to understand fully and comfortably how to manage individuals
and teams who are engaged in non-traditional work styles, such as
compressed schedules or teleworking. Guide and support their practices:
in management by objectives, in superlative communications, and
in peer support systems.
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Reward and recognition: as the old tenet goes
— what gets rewarded, gets repeated. Measure and reward your
managers’ success in leading teams and individuals who engage
in flex programs while meeting or exceeding business goals and objectives.
If the only measure of success at year-end evaluation is in terms
of business goals, there is no incentive to prioritize innovative
workforce practices.
WorkLife Performance, Inc.
5927 Conway Rd. • Bethesda, MD 20817
301.461.7291 • info@flexibleworkplace.net
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