The adoption of Alternative Work Practices leads to a wide range of advantages and has proved to be ‘win-win’ for both the employees and the employers.

Advantages to the Employees:

• Greater flexibility, convenience and ability to synchronise and balance your work and family life.

• Increased personal empowerment, morale and autonomy at work.

• Possible additional income thanks to the ability to take up a second part-time job.

• Reduced stress to reach the work place at 9 am.

• Improved productivity

• More choices and employment opportunities (for instance, disabled people can take up jobs as per their convenience).

• It encourages work together with studies which is in line with lifelong learning. 

Advantages to the Employers:

• Ability to attract, recruit and retain highly competent employees in today’s increasingly competitive environment. Companies which top the list of the “best companies to work for” are regularly praised for their adoption of flexible work schedules.

• Enhancing of employee productivity, loyalty and commitment

• Lower overhead, transport and real estate costs. Employers are able to achieve significant savings as employees no longer need to occupy office space on a full time basis or travel to and from office every day.

• Reduction in absenteeism, tardiness and employee turnover

• Increased returns to shareholders

Challenges for Employers:

• Initial start up and operating costs may be high. Work from home involves providing adequate IT equipment for the ‘virtual office’ employee.

• The need may arise for managing resistance to change, employees’ scepticism and disruption to organisational culture.

• It may be harder to coordinate, control staff and monitor their performance. Work policies regarding telework and appropriate guidelines, training and performance management systems need to be set up.

• There may be the need for efficient measures to prevent breach of information security and client confidentiality.

• Employee health and safety issues must be given due consideration.