Commentary

Non-linear workdays & hybrid working in Brisbane, Australia

Flexible working – the pandemic has shown us that employees can work away from the office and still be productive.

November 25, 2022

Hybrid working provides the best of both worlds: employees can remain productive, and businesses can maintain their culture. This is why the adoption of flexible working, which was already quite prevalent, has accelerated post-pandemic.

During traditional working hours or the ‘9-5’routine, employees would mostly be at their desks, minus a break for lunch, usually five days a week. Any life occurrences such as picking up children from school, attending personal appointments or study commitments required time off or postponement. However, having the opportunity to work with greater flexibility has shown that people can juggle a whole range of priorities in a productive and fulfilling way. Therefore, the non-linear workday has become increasingly popular and ingrained in the new economy. 

A non-linear workday gives equal importance to an individual’s professional and personal life. This could be exemplified by the high-prevailing trend of working early mornings and late evenings or completing extra work in block segments. This helps the employee to have free time for personal commitments or unlock quiet time for creative projects.

The rationale for non-linear workdays and flexibility leads to the desired work-life balance, increasing productivity, motivation, focus time, work speed, attendance, and reducing stress. This approach can even decrease fatigue and help with mental health and well-being.

Businesses and office environments also benefit from this arrangement. Employees with a good work-life balance enjoy being in the office, contribute meaningfully to collaborative projects, help shape team morale and feel a sense of belonging to the business.

However, communication is one of the key challenges in implementing hybrid working for both employees and businesses. Denise Vu Broady of the Forbes Communication Council commented on fostering a culture of productive communication and said building authentic relationships and celebrating successes are required so productivity doesn’t go backwards.

More than ever, the world is in a state of constant flux. Therefore, embracing the growing popularity of non-linear workdays could mean catering for a diverse range of employees where efficiency and well-being are crucial, which ultimately aids employees to be more productive.