New Delhi India : Use of technology to create a seamless work environment, induction of management and project heads towards a flexible, accountable and delivery focused culture and creation of workplace models and formats, which aid flexibility and enhance an employee’s workplace experience were the key suggestions made by the contestants for the FLEX THE WORKPLACE contest.

The winners of the contest were Uma and Jyoti Bhargava, whose suggestions revolved around innovative work formats.

The ‘Flex The Workplace’ contest initiated by Fleximoms (www.fleximoms.in) and Women’s Web (www.womensweb.in) threw up some relevant and interesting suggestions, which could help enhance workplace flexibility, drive efficiency and help improve diversity in the workforce.

The initiative invited measureable, doable, concrete ideas, suggestions and action-points to increase the flexibility quotient of workplaces in India. These include steps that business leaders, policy makers, HR managers and professionals can take to enhance flexible work practices and policies.

The main FLEX THE WORKPLACE suggestions included:

Infrastructure: Enhancement in infrastructure that aids worker flexibility. This inludes daycare centres, crèches, caregivers, feeding stations and family lounge at the workplace.

Technology: For an IT leader and outsourcing expert, Indian companies measure inadequately on the ‘investment in technology’ front. Technology can prove to be a great enhancer for productivity, connectivity and measurability at the workplace. Investment in smartphones, laptops, tablets, tele-conferencing and SOHO connectivity has potential to aid a flexible work environment.

Management and team orientation: When the management sees the business case for flexibility, it percolates to line and project mangers. Heightened awareness of flexibility as an organizational concept, specifics of implanting processes and policies, empowerment of teams and focus on a culture of delivery are some of the key points for adoption of flexibility as a value driver in organizations.

Work Model: Creation and adoption of models of work including Job sharing, flexi-day, flexi-week, flexi-month, project, contracts, part-time and telecommute are all formats which help in creating a ramp for a diverse workforce and enhance an organization’s flexibility quotient.

The workforce today hinges on a changing paradigm and manages multiple levels of complexity. Dual earners, unconventional caregivers, greater need for financial independence, high number of educated women, single-parent families and non-existent social security are some of the factors driving the workforce trends. These patterns accentuate the need for greater workforce flexibility, especially for women, since they shoulder a large part of the care-giving economy in India. A Flexible workplace seeks to address the following three key policy concerns:

• Flexible Work Arrangements

• Scheduled Time Off in varying formats

• Career Maintenance and Reentry

A robust economy demands a productive and engaged workforce. Workplace flexibility offers a means of achieving this outcome while benefitting both employers and employees. The need for greater workplace flexibility cannot be underestimated for employees who are facing competing demands of personal and professional lives.

Fleximoms

Fleximoms is a diversity solutions provider. Fleximoms enhances opportunities for talented, qualified but least accessed professionals. It provides employers with access to untapped islands of professional excellence as a means to strengthen corporate competitiveness. Fleximoms is a unit of SAITA Consulting Private Limited and is based out of Delhi, with presence in Bangalore, Bhopal, Mumbai, Pune, Chandigarh and Lucknow. www.fleximoms.in

Women’s Web

Women’s Web is an online magazine and community for the thinking woman. It provides interesting and useful information on Career development, Managing work and family, Successful women, Entrepreneurship, Women’s health and personal finances. Women’s Web serves as a forum for Indian women to talk about the things that impact their lives. www.womensweb.in