TALKING POINT
Do flexi working hours enhance productivity?

MORE and more companies are allowing their employees the freedom to set their own work timings to suit their job and personal requirements. The culture of flexi hours is spreading, especially in customer-service jobs where the timings have to be synchronised to suit those of the clients. Manoj Kumar presents arguments in favour and against this trend.

"It enables workers to optimise output"

—Mohit Verma, Managing Director, C-Net Communication (India) Pvt Ltd

In entire software and BPO industry has adjusted itself to flexible working hours. Since we are working for US and European clients during night, they are able to outsource their work to India. Our capability to work according to their needs has enabled us to earn billions annually and generate employment for millions.

The new-age managements have began to understand that they should be more concerned about their objectives and profit margins, and allow their employees to set independent schedules.

• Flexible hours also facilitate the better involvement of employees in the functioning of companies. They begin to own management goals and share their company’s vision. Most of them would happily stay with the company for a longer period when given the autonomy to work according to their pace and convenience.

• Our experience has shown that flexible working hours help a company earn the goodwill of employees, customers and increased sales. We have to work according to the needs of customers and not the other way around."

• Besides benefiting the company bottomlines, the employees, who are ready to adapt themselves with the demands of the business, are also sure to enhance their career prospects.

"It can hinder synchronisation among depts"

—R.S. Kandhari, Vice-President, Beltek (India) Ltd

• It is not always possible to allow flexible working hours to the administrative and delivery staff, who have to follow regular office hours in keeping with the banking hours and the government norms.

• It may make it difficult for the administrative staff and management to keep in touch with the field workers who’re keeping flexi hours. Mobiles can solve this problem only to a certain extent.

• Sometimes, it becomes difficult for the families of these employees to adjust with a working schedule that is not fixed, resulting in unnecessary tension in the family.

• Companies like Beltek, which deal directly with the consumer electronics market, encourage their sales and marketing staff to follow the working time of the retail market. It saves time and enables them to attain better productivity.

• Since no retailer or dealer likes to meet the sales and marketing staff quite early in the morning, we ask our employees to start their day after 11 am. They have to visit the dealers only in the afternoon or late evening to get payments.

• In metros like Delhi and Mumbai, due to traffic congestion during normal working hours, it is always beneficial for the company and the employees to adopt flexible working hours, say 11 am to 8 pm. This helps to avoid traffic hassles.