International Labor Organization: Flexibility at work is good for workers, companies and the economy

The International Labor Organization considered that the measures taken during the Covid-19 crisis provide new evidence that giving workers more flexibility over how, where and when they work can be positive for themselves, companies and the economy, and contribute, for example, to increased productivity.

The International Labor Organization has confirmed that introducing more flexible work arrangements, such as those adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic, is good for the economy, companies and workers.

In a report released Friday, the International Labor Organization presented the effects of working time on company performance and on the work-life balance.

The lead author of the study, John Messinger, confirmed that "this report shows that if we apply the lessons learned from the Covid-19 crisis and scrutinize the way working hours are organized we can reach a win-win scenario by improving corporate performance and achieving life balance." professional and private life at the same time.

The report examined the measures taken by the government and companies to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, in order to contribute to preserving the various departments and protecting jobs.

The report found that increasing the number of workers working fewer hours helped prevent job losses.

The organization considered that the measures taken during the Covid-19 crisis provide new evidence that giving workers more flexibility about how, where and when they work can be positive for themselves and companies and contribute, for example, to increased productivity.

According to the ILO statement, the restriction of flexibility entails significant costs, including increased employment.

The report asserts that "a large number of evidence shows that policies aimed at achieving a balance between work and personal life lead to significant gains for companies and this supports the idea that such policies are indeed a win-win scenario (employers and employees)".

Although remote work contributes to preserving jobs and providing a new framework for employee independence, it requires regulation in order to limit its potential negative effects, according to the International Labor Organization, through policies based on the right not to work continuously.

The report notes that more than a third of the workforce around the world works regularly for more than 48 hours per week (average working hours per week is 40 working hours), while one-fifth of the global workforce works for less than 35 hours per week