Fewer Flexible Work Schedules for Employees
Yesterday's USA Today reported a downward trend in employees who work flexible hours, even though, as the article cites, such arrangements can increase productivity. According to the US Department of labor:
"The number of full-time wage and salary workers age 16 and older on flexible schedules dropped from 29 million in May 2001 to 27.4 million in 2004."
Reasons for the decline include the fact that more and more companies are dropping flexible arrangements (the idea that it's a buyers market in employment and employers just don't have to), and the belief on the part of employees that to ask for flexibility will put you on the layoff list for the next staff reduction. The fact that some employers can be so short-sighted seems counterproductive to me. If it helps productivity, saves employees from spending $2.50/gal. for gas to sit in bumper-to-bumper traffic, and likely helps reduce workplace and life stress, please explain why companies would eliminate such arrangement? It's just a matter of time before the tides change and it will be a "seller's" market. In fact, in some professions it already is.