Work-life Balance in New Zealand

Flexible working arrangements

This list isn’t exhaustive but provides a description of some of the more common forms of flexible work

This list is also available as a pdf 2 pages, 64KB

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Definitions of Flexible working arrangements

Types of flexibility	Potential benefits of flexibility	Examples of approaches to flexibility
FLEXI TIME
Flexi hours Options that allow employees to vary their work hours	Improves efficiency if work schedules match employees’ most productive hours Gives employees more control over scheduling personal responsibilities during the workday Allows for commuting outside of peak rush hours Retains employees who need time off to care for dependents or to meet other responsibilities outside of paid work Expands labour pool Brings broader range of knowledge, skills and experience Provides an option for employees who want to reduce their hours, but whose jobs cannot be done on a part time basis	Flexi time / Adjusted hours – employees work for an agreed total number of ‘core hours’  and choose when their  working day begins and ends. Core hours – hours (for example, 10am to 4pm) during which employees working flexitime must be at work. Staggered hours – different start and finish times for employees in the same workplace. Time in lieu / Time banking – any extra hours worked are compensated for by paid time off. Flexi breaks –stopping for breaks at times that suit the employee’s particular workload. Part time / Reduced hours / Job sharing / Job splitting – these options mean that employees work less than full time hours. To achieve this, the job is often redesigned and responsibilities split between a number of part time employees. As needed hours / On call / Casual – employees are on call and work hours as needed, either at home or in the workplace.
Flexi weeks Options that allow employees to vary their weekly work pattern	Improves productivity if some work can best be accomplished during quieter times of the day/week Allows for more days off Decreases the number of days employees commute Allows for commuting outside of peak rush hour	Compressed week – weekly full time hours are worked over a shorter time period. Weekday/weekend swap – employees swap working on a weekday for working on a weekend day. Shift self-selection – employees contribute to development of shift work schedules and choose own shifts. Weeks on/weeks off – working one or several weeks and taking one or several weeks off.
Flexi year Options that allow employees to vary their yearly work pattern	Provides options for employees to take limited or extended time off from work to manage various family and personal responsibilities	Term-time working – working during the school terms and taking paid or unpaid time off during school holidays. Annualised hours – an agreed number of hours worked on a yearly rather than a weekly basis. Buyable leave – employees exchange an agreed reduction in salary for extra periods of leave over a specified period.
FLEXI PLACE
Flexi location Options that allow employees to work from locations other than their  designated workplace	Offers alternative to relocation Expands labour pool geographically Reduces office space and associated costs Accommodates employees with disabilities Reduces or eliminates commuting Provides an environment with fewer workplace distractions Allows employees to work during their “personal best time”	Tele-working / Tele-commuting / Home-working / Remote-working – all these options involve working from home or another location outside of the workplace on either a full or part time basis.
Flexi worksite Options that allow employees to work from different locations within the workplace	Encourages collaboration across work-groups and project teams Reduces permanent office space and associated costs	Hot desking – temporary use of a workstation.
FLEXI CAREER
Flexi career Options that allow employees to move in and out of the workforce and structure their career around other interests/responsibilities	Expands labour pool Provides options for gradual return to work after parental or other leave Allows gradual entry into retirement Provides opportunities for cross-training and skill enhancement	Career break / Sabbatical – extended periods of leave that are normally unpaid. Work transition – provides opportunities for employees to make changes in their work hours, location, or job responsibilities. For example, moving to a less demanding job when approaching retirement. Phased retirement – hours of work are progressively reduced until full retirement is reached at a specified date. Phased return / Gradual return – hours of work are progressively increased until a full complement of full or part time hours is reached at a specified date. Often used by parents returning from parental leave. Self managed work – employees work in their own way, often without direct supervision, towards an agreed goal. Job rotation / Role rotation – employees move between two or more jobs so they can cross-train and develop a wider variety of skills.

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