14 DAY TRIAL // According to the conclusions of a new scientific study conducted by experts at the University of Minnesota (UM), it would appear that people who are allowed to be flexible at the workplace sleep better, and are overall healthier and more productive, than peers who don't have this luxury.
The findings were made in a new study led by UM sociologists Dr. Erin Kelly and Dr. Phyllis Moen. The group says that the findings apply to people who are allowed to be flexible in determining where and when to work.
In other words, the same discoveries do not apply to standard, 9-to-5 workers, who are allowed little to no flexibility in establishing their work scheduled. The new data again does not support the widespread belief that employees need to be at the workplace for 40+ hours per week.
This approach – which is unfortunately the one used even today – does not take into account factors that are critical for productivity, such as for example happiness, workplace satisfaction and poor health habits on the part of the employees.
Details of the new study were published in the December issue of the esteemed Journal of Health and Social Behavior, PsychCentral reports. The investigation was carried out on 608 white-collar employees in the United States.
“Our study shows that moving from viewing time at the office as a sign of productivity, to emphasizing actual results can create a work environment that fosters healthy behavior and well-being,” Moen says.
“This has important policy implications, suggesting that initiatives creating broad access to time flexibility encourage employees to take better care of themselves,” the expert goes on to explain.
All participants in the study were part of organizations that eventually implemented flexible workplace initiatives. Test subjects were monitored both before and after the changes entered into effect. The team was especially interested in health-promoting behaviors and health outcomes.
“Narrower flexibility policies allow some 'accommodations' for family needs, but are less likely to promote employee health and well-being or to be available to all employees,” Kelly argues.
The study reveals that people with flexible work schedules reported getting almost a full extra hour of sleep since the company-wide initiatives were implemented. They were also more likely to seek out a doctor when they were sick, and not work when feeling ill.