Is 'Workplace Flexibility' Real or Just a Myth?

According to a study performed by researchers at Boston College's Sloan Center on Aging and Work, it's just a myth. Workplace flexibility is a term that we've been hearing a lot of in recent years. Employers oftentimes use it to describe job openings in their company, hoping it will lure in workers. Unfortunately, however, workplace flexibility is merely an illusion that leads many job-seekers down the wrong path.

In today's hectic, fast-paced world, workplace flexibility can seem like an enticing benefit for employees to work for a company. Many employees in the U.S. work full 40-50 hour weeks, and some work even longer. Companies may advertise flexible hours, days off work, scheduling, and the ability to move around the country (assuming there's a branch nearby), all of which are attractive selling points for overworked employees looking for a new job.

But the recent study published in the journal Community, Work, and Family reveals the truth about workplace flexibility. Researchers at the Sloan Center on Aging and Work closely examined the so-called "flexible arrangements" of 545 employers in the U.S. While they discovered some flexibility in terms of where employees work and when they report in, most employers were not flexible with days off work and scheduling.

"While large percentages of employers report that they have at least some workplace flexibility, the number of options is usually limited and they are typically not available to the entire workforce," said Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes, director of the Sloan Centre on Aging and Work at Boston College. "We're trying to help employers understand that flexible work initiatives work best if their organizations offer a comprehensive set of options."

In addition, researchers found that only one in five employers offered multiple approached to workplace flexibility. Most employers (80%) created a linear structure that gave workers little-to-no actual flexibility. The entire purpose of workplace flexibility is to offer multiple options, so it really doesn't many any sense for companies to take a single approach.

So, what should you take away from this study? I guess the most concerning issue is the fact that employers are advertising and flaunting workplace flexibility but fail to deliver when the time comes. And when things don't improve for the company, they automatically blame it on their flexible schedule. Workplace flexibility will only benefit a company if the employer properly implements it.

Do you believe researchers of this study made the right conclusion? We'd love to hear what you think in the comments section below!