flexitime

Flexitime, or flextime, is a working arrangement that allows employees to choose their starting and finishing times within agreed limits. Typically, workers must complete a specified number of hours per day or per week and be present for a set of core hours during which activity is expected. Outside core hours they may shift start and end times to suit personal needs, subject to supervisor approval and meeting business requirements. Some implementations also offer compressed schedules, such as longer daily hours for fewer days per week.

Common models include a core-time arrangement, where a defined period (for example 10:00 to 15:00) requires presence, with the remaining hours flexible. Other variants remove fixed core hours entirely, letting employees determine a full daily schedule within an agreed window. Flexitime is often paired with hybrid or on-site arrangements, but it is distinct from remote work in that the emphasis is on when work is done rather than where.

Benefits cited by employers include improved work-life balance, reduced commuting time and costs, higher job satisfaction, and potential productivity gains when workers control their energy peaks. It can aid recruitment and retention and provide coverage across different time zones or customer needs. On the downside, flexitime can complicate scheduling, collaboration, and supervision; it may raise perceptions of unfairness if no explicit guidelines exist; and it can increase administrative and legal compliance overhead.

Effective flexitime programs typically specify the total required hours, core hours (if any), processes for requesting changes, notice periods, and how overtime or scheduling conflicts are handled. Organizations must consider legal requirements for working time, rest periods, and recordkeeping, which vary by jurisdiction, and ensure policies align with collective agreements and technology-enabled attendance tracking.