The Flexibility Advantage

A new framework for flexible work that…works.

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There are few words in our contemporary workplace lexicon that are more divisive than “flexible.” From hot-desking and hybrid schedules to the very nature of our workplace hierarchies, the once-immutable norms of our American office structures are not only up for debate, but determinative of success.

At The Mom Project and Werklabs, we understand that flexibility is as nuanced as it is critical to the workforce and that it relates to every other driver impacting work experiences. In fact, flexibility is one of the most important drivers impacting work experiences, especially for women.

This research focuses specifically on factors that have the greatest impact on creating flexible work experiences. Here we create a framework for organizations to reevaluate how to define and make progress toward building flexible work structures. As many organizations return to the office post-pandemic, we explore how flexibility goes beyond simply scheduling to include critical yet intangible efforts and messaging on the part of organizational leadership and managers, in which nuances will make or break the success of flexible work policies’ impact on bottom line performance.

Leveraging our existing research to develop a comprehensive questionnaire, we surveyed more than 1,700 full-time and part-time workers and asked them to rate their experiences with flexibility in the workplace.

At The Mom Project and Werklabs, we believe that when employees experience ownership not only over their work product but also over their day-to-day work schedule, they are happier and more productive. Now, with this research, we have the data to prove it.

Sincerely,
Pam Cohen, PhD
Chief Research & Analytics Officer
Werklabs & The Mom Project