Small companies will face problems with flexible hours, says expert

The Employment Act allows employees to apply for flexible working arrangements based on time, days, and work location. (Envato Elements pic)

PETALING JAYA: Managing employees’ schedules is one of the biggest challenges companies face in providing flexible working arrangements, says human resources expert Usha Devi.

Usha, a managing consultant with a business consultancy, said organisations with a small workforce find it more manageable to have all their employees at work at the same time.

“If a company only has a headcount of five and all their work is interrelated, it would be difficult if one starts work at 8am and another at 10am.

“It is also harder to have flexible scheduling, especially if a business such as a workshop operates at fixed hours,” Usha told FMT.

Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) president Syed Hussain Syed Husman said adapting work structures for flexible schedules could pose problems, particularly when tasks are interdependent or require close collaboration among team members.

“Flexible working arrangements is an option but requires careful planning and a lot of discipline to provide benefits to both workers and employers,” Syed Hussain said, although he added that MEF is supportive of flexible working arrangements.

He said the technology currently available makes flexible working arrangements a possible option, with scheduling and communications apps for video conferencing available.

Usha suggested that companies make a small start on flexible hours by staggering work times, starting between 8am and 10am and finishing between 4.30pm and 6.30pm. Such hours would allow employees to run morning errands without compromising productivity, she said.

She also suggested that employees working on shifts be allowed a four-day week with longer working hours per day, but maintaining the total hours per week or month.

Last month, human resources minister Steven Sim said workers could apply for flexible working arrangements based on time, days, and work location. He said such requests should be submitted to employers for feedback within 60 days. Employers must provide reasons for rejecting the request.