Submitted by an NAMC member
Without the flexibility I’m afforded at work, I’d be in terrible shape. In the past few years I’ve had to deal with my dad’s hospitalization, rehab, emergency blood transfusion almost gone wrong, and extended rehab – all from a distance of 30 miles over very traffic congested roadways. Not a quick or easy trip.
I’ve personally had several medical issues demanding immediate attention and extensive testing – you know the drill, show up early, wait for hours, worry for a week, finally get the results and a referral to yet another specialist. Thankfully things are looking up on that score. Sprinkle on a few happy occasions (births, weddings), mix with a faltering economy which make work stresses more acute, and 24/7 availability of e-mails, text messages and voice mails and you’ve got a pressure cooker.
The option to take time when I absolutely had to and to make up lost hours as I could saved my sanity. It also contributed to my focused attention to my work when I am at the office, it increased my productivity and made me very willing to step up when anything extra needed to be done at work – giving back for the flex offered when I needed it.
Experiences of firms implementing these kinds of arrangements have shown that these same results happen for firms that provide the flexibility their employees need. We’re not robots, we have relationships that are crucial to not only the individuals involved but to a thriving social structure and a humane and productive work environment … and businesses benefit through the increased productivity, effectiveness and loyalty of their workers.
