Tips for tweaking attendance policies to meet rising demand for flexible work

As employees return to the workplace from remote locations and give up the ability to take a break and walk the dog whenever they want, many are demanding more flexible work schedules. Here are some tips that may help.

Not all jobs can be flexible

As humans, we think primarily about what benefits us individually. As HR managers, however, you must think broadly about the institution as a whole and how all the pieces, including attendance, fit together. The goal is to create consistent policies that improve efficiencies that are not only fair but also legally enforceable.

In assessing the potential for flexible attendance policies, it’s important to evaluate the nature and type of work your organization tackles. Some jobs, particularly if they can’t be done remotely, may require very specific start and stop times. Here are some examples: