Book Description

Positive flexibility refers to working time arrangements that meet the needs of employees and provide choice in balancing work and family life. Increased flexibility in working hours can thus have a positive impact on gender equality. This is in contrast to negative forms of flexibility that result in involuntary working time arrangements that restrict the choices of working parents, particularly women. Flexible arrangements include part-time work, flexi-time schemes, telework, working from home, compressed working weeks, gradual return from leave, job sharing, term-time working, time banking and working time accounts. Surveys consistently show that employees who have access to flexibility at work have higher scores related to engagement and lower scores on stress and burnout, and a positive impact on employee retention.