Implementing fully flexible roles across and entire organisation is often seen as a big and brave move. Organisations like Telstra, KMPG and ANZ have made the switch and are seeing the benefits. They are to be recognised and celebrated in making the change which was departure from long held practices.

However, small and medium sized businesses across Australia have been providing flexible work to staff for decades, with little fanfare. Why? Because flexible work makes sense. Because it allows a role to grow in scope as the business grows. Because it allows businesses to access the skills and expertise they need. Because it allows them to attract top talent. Because it improves productivity, culture, retention and outcomes. The list goes on.

Flexible work can include:

Flex Time: Employees are offered a range of starting and ending times for the workday.

Compressed work weeks: Employees work 40 hours in fewer than five days. A 10-hour, four-day week is commonly used, or another alternative such as working nine days out of ten in a two-week schedule.

Telecommuting: Employees work from home or another remote location.

Part-time Work or Job Sharing: Employees work fewer hours, or two employees share the same position, splitting the responsibility for the work between them.

What are the benefits?

For small businesses it is a tool to attract and retain top talent when competing with larger businesses.

It offers businesses the option of bringing on flexible workers to service a project/task/period of time without having to commit to a full time employee – it allows businesses to feel out a role, and have a role grow in scope and demand as the business grows.

Flexible work also has been seen to improve productivity, workplace morale and culture, enhanced retention and reduced absenteeism.

Other benefits include

– Improved job satisfaction, morale, and productivity.

– Enhanced employee recruitment and retention.

– Increased energy and creativity.

– Reduced absenteeism.

– Reduced stress and burn out.

– Improved balance of work and family life.

What is missing?

What is missing is a way to connect businesses who offer flexible professional roles and want top professional talent with the pool of top talent that has disengaged. The talent who are in roles that don’t work for them, where flexibility is not offered, the talent who are not working and don’t know where to find a role that utilises their talent and skills while offering the flexibility they desire.

The Collective Organisation connects smart women with organisations that value top female talent and know that they are a core part of the organisation reaching its potential.

Our clients have access to The Collective Organisation’s community of highly skilled, ambitious and engaged professional women and we reach beyond those actively seeking new opportunities.

Contact us to post a role or to register as a candidate. Have access to, or to join, our community.

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