“Workin’ 9 to 5, what a way to make a living.” Dolly Parton sang it back in 1980 – and we’ve been questioning that rigid schedule ever since. Today, employees crave flexibility, autonomy, and the freedom to control their own time. And employers? They have everything to gain by offering it. Here’s a closer look at why flextime is in such high demand – and how to make it work in practice.
Picture this: You start the day with a slow, peaceful breakfast. Then sit down and get in an hour of focused work – before your colleagues have even logged in. Later in the afternoon, you pick up your child from preschool, without stress or guilt for "clocking out early".
This is exactly the kind of day more and more people want. According to the Worklife 3.0 report from Benifex, "working hours and time off" top the list of Sweden’s most appreciated employee benefits – a category that includes flextime and other forms of flexible scheduling. In short: many people value the ability to structure their days – often even more than a pay raise or a company car.
What Flextime Is – and Why It’s So Popular
1. Better Work-Life Balance
Flextime allows people to shape their workdays around real life. That makes it easier to fit in workouts, dentist appointments, grocery runs – or just take a breather when needed. It simplifies the daily juggle, plain and simple..
2. Less Stress and Sick Leave
Sure, it feels good to control your schedule – but does it actually make a difference? Yes. Research from the Stress Research Institute (article in Swedish) shows that people with high control over their working hours recover better and feel healthier over time. That’s tied to several benefits: lower risk of burnout and depression, reduced stress levels, and even fewer workplace accidents.
3. Work When You’re at Your Best
Early birds hit their stride at dawn. Night owls peak after lunch. With flextime, no one is forced into a one-size-fits-all schedule – instead, you can (to some extent) match your hours with your natural energy and focus.
4. Longer Breaks
Bank an hour here, thirty minutes there – and before you know it, you’ve earned a full day off to use when it suits you. With a bit of planning, employees can save up flextime for long weekends, bridge days, or other moments when time off is truly valuable.
5. More When It’s Needed – Less When It’s Not
Some days require an extra push. Others let you wind down a bit earlier. When workloads vary (as they often do), flextime helps smooth out the pressure – letting hours follow the actual flow of work.
Just remember: flextime is not the same as overtime. It’s not about managers asking employees to “put it on flex” when things get hectic – it’s about letting employees adjust their time on their own initiative.
6. A Boost to your Employer Brand
Flextime isn’t just popular – it also says something about who you are as an employer. Giving people more freedom over their time sends a clear message: we trust you, and we know you’ll take responsibility. And that matters. Engagement rises, loyalty strengthens, and you’ll likely find it easier to attract and retain talent.
In short – if you want to be seen as a modern, attractive employer, flextime (where feasible) is a powerful card to play.
Making Flextime Work – Our Top Four Tips
For flextime to work smoothly, you’ll need the right mix of clear routines and smart tools. Here’s what makes the biggest difference:
1. Set Clear Rules and Expectations
What’s the core time when everyone must be available? How much can people flex each day? How is time tracked? When and how can flextime be used – are full days allowed? Getting everyone on the same page is essential.
Some practical tips:
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Provide all employees with clear written information about your flextime policy.
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Include it in onboarding for new hires.
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Maintain open dialogue and address questions or misunderstandings promptly.
2. Get Managers on Board
Flextime is built on trust – and trust needs to be nurtured. Managers play a key role here. It’s not enough to say “you have freedom with responsibility” and then let go. Leading through results rather than presence takes real commitment.
That means trusting the work will get done – even if no one’s at their desk by 8:00 sharp. But it also requires clear goals, regular check-ins, and ongoing communication about expectations and outcomes. A continuous dialogue is the foundation for success.
3. Make Time Tracking Easy – and Real-Time
Flextime offers freedom – but it also needs structure. The right tools make all the difference. A smart time tracking system lets both employees and managers stay up to date: on hours worked, time used, and current balances.
Sure, in theory you could manage with spreadsheets or sticky notes. But it’s easy to fall behind – and suddenly you don’t remember when you left for that dentist appointment. With a modern system that works anytime, anywhere, you can clock in and out in seconds, monitor hours in real time, and skip the manual mess.
For employers, this means smoother administration, faster detection of anomalies, and better compliance. Bottom line: fewer headaches and more control.
Read more: Embrace Time Reporting: Here's Why!
3. Something Off? Review and Adjust
Feeling some friction? Keep the dialogue open – in teams and across the organization – to catch issues before they become problems.
Maybe recurring late-afternoon meetings clash with people’s flextime routines. Or maybe there’s confusion around what counts as flextime versus overtime. Sometimes the issue is simply that the time tracking tool isn’t intuitive enough. Staying responsive and adjusting as needed is key to making flextime sustainable.
Stay on Top of Flextime With Flex HRM Time
Ready for a smarter, smoother workday? With Flex HRM Time, we’ve made it incredibly easy to stay on top of flextime – and everything else related to working hours and time off. Best of all? You can track your time anytime, anywhere – via desktop, app, or terminal.
Curious? Contact us – we’ll tell you more!
