Businesses can set a standard number of weekly or monthly work hours and allow staff the flexibility to work at times that suit them. If necessary, employers can set some core times to be at work to meet customer service requirements and allow employees to choose their starting and finishing times.
Benefits to employers
- Businesses are able to offer additional services to clients/extended operating hours.
- Better retention of valued staff and a reduction in labour turnover, which eases labour shortages as well as reducing recruitment and training costs.
- Reduced absenteeism when employees can combine work with hours that suit their personal responsibilities.
- Extra appeal as a 'preferred employer'.
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Benefits to employees
- Flexibility to meet both work and other responsibilities.
- Increased productivity and job satisfaction resulting from greater flexibility.
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Tips for implementing and managing flexible working hours
The following tips for managing flexible hours may help.
- Consider implementing a 'roster' system that indicates the days and times of work for all employees. This way everyone knows who is available when and can plan accordingly.
- Ensure that all staff in a team are aware of any staff working non-core hours. This will assist the team manage workloads and deadlines expected from each worker.
- Provide simple guidelines for staff working irregular and non-core hours.
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Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard
Under the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard, an employee should not be required or requested to work more than a maximum of 38 ordinary hours (averaged over an agreed period, up to a maximum of 12 months) plus reasonable additional hours.
Read more: Sample clause regarding flexible hours that you can include in your workplace agreements
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Establishing an hours bank
If the workload is high and staff need to work additional hours, these hours can be stored in a ‘bank’ for a quiet period when it is convenient to take time off. A maximum ‘averaging’ period of 12 months applies.
Read more: Sample clause for including an hours bank in your workplace agreement
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Annualised working hours
Annualised working hours involves rearranging the hours that staff work throughout the year to meet fluctuating or seasonal workloads. These hours are paid at a standard weekly rate, even though the hours worked may be different at various times of the year.
By introducing annualised working hours, businesses do not need to hire additional staff in busy periods and can provide current employees with shorter working weeks when it is quiet.
Read more: Sample clause for introducing annual working hours into your workplace agreements
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Arranging starting and finishing times to suit the seasons
An agreement may specify different working hours for different times of the year. For example, in some outdoor industries, summer work starts at dawn and finishes early, whilst in winter, the day may start later. Workplace agreements can be very specific about what hours are worked in which months.
Read more: Sample clause for introducing seasonal starting and finishing times into your workplace agreements
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