Friday, the United Nations stated that flexible work arrangements, like as those implemented during the Covid-19 crisis, not only benefit employees but also enhance productivity and, perhaps, a company’s financial line.
In its first report on work-life balance, the International Labour Organization of the United Nations assessed the effects of working time, working hours, and working time arrangements on staff well-being and business performance.
“This report demonstrates that if we apply some of the lessons learned from the Covid-19 crisis and examine the way working hours are structured as well as their overall length, we can create a win-win situation by improving both business performance and work-life balance,” said the report’s lead author, Jon Messenger.
The report investigates the crisis response tactics taken by governments and companies as the epidemic expanded, in an effort to keep organizations operational and employees employed.
In South Africa, a four-day work week trial program is commencing. SOON
It was discovered that the increased share of workers on reduced hours prevented employment losses.
In addition, the report concluded that the “global implementation of telework on a large scale” had “changed not only telework but also the nature of employment for the foreseeable future.”
The Covid measurements gave compelling evidence, according to the ILO, that providing workers with greater flexibility in how, where, and when they work might be advantageous not just for the workers themselves but also for businesses, notably through enhanced productivity.
On the other hand, the analysis revealed that constraining flexibility raised expenses, notably due to greater personnel turnover.
“There is substantial evidence that work–life policies provide significant benefits to businesses,” the report stated.
The ILO emphasized that telework and other flexible work arrangements helped to preserve employment while fostering greater employee autonomy.
It stated, however, that regulation, such as so-called “right to disconnect” rules, was necessary to prevent unwanted impacts.
In a crackdown on migrant labor exploitation, Spanish police have arrested 43 individuals.
According to the survey, a significant portion of the worldwide workforce does not adhere to the traditional eight-hour workday and 40-hour workweek.
More than a third usually work more than 48 hours per week, while 20 percent work fewer than 35 hours per week.
© Agence France-Presse
»The UN asserts that flexible work hours will increase productivity«