Got burnout? Build a more flexible workweek

It turns out that consistent 50-60 hour work weeks are leading to burnout in the workplace. Go figure. That's why more and more companies are offering flexible work schedules. According to the recently released National Study of Employers, some 68 percent of organizations today are offering employees the option of working alternative schedules--by engaging in job sharing, telecommuting or by working non-traditional hours. Corporations adopting this new attitude include Best Buy, McGraw-Hill, Cisco and Deloitte. So what if you don't work in one of these enlightened workplaces? Consultant Lori K. Long, author of The Parents Guide to Family Friendly Work and adjunct professor of management at Baldwin Wallace College in Ohio, writes in CIO magazine that there are ways to build a case for breaking out of the 9-5 grind. "The best approach to take when asking your boss for a more flexible work arrangement is to keep your company's interests in mind. Think about how your request could benefit your company," she notes. A well thought out proposal should provide the following: an outline of your proposed work arrangement, an outline of how you will address changes in workloads, and compensation changes for less hours worked and necessary support resources. She also suggests using a trial period to test the new working situation and providing metrics to determine whether your new schedule is successful. These can be a handy pieces of advice for CIOs who want to create more options for talent they want to attract or retain.

To learn about building a flexible schedule for you or your employees:
- read the article in CIO