- Experts share new workplace trend that has potential to change the workforce as we know it
- Almost half of respondents believe that having the ability to choose their own work hours would have a positive impact on their mental health
- 35% of individuals feel that their organisation’s flexible work policies do not align with their specific needs.
Chrono-working, a revolutionary concept where employees can choose their work hours based on their natural sleep patterns, is currently being trialled by companies across the UK. Recruitment specialists at Robert Walters Australia predict that this trend could soon become prevalent in Australia as well.
Coined by UK journalist Ellen C Scott, chrono-working has gained recognition for its ability to improve productivity and enhance work-life balance nationwide. In fact, Google searches for ‘chronoworking’ in the UK have seen a staggering 600% increase year on year. Numerous organisations across the UK, particularly those with globally dispersed employees, have already embraced this flexible approach.
Shay Peters, CEO of Robert Walters Australia and New Zealand, commented on this emerging trend, stating, “While chrono-working may seem radical at first glance, its implications have the potential to completely reshape the global workforce, creating a borderless economy.”
The recruitment experts at Robert Walters emphasise that chrono-working has the power to significantly transform the traditional structure of the workforce. Peters explains, “By breaking free from the constraints of traditional working hours, we can ensure that there is always someone available to cater to the needs of clients or customers, regardless of their geographical location. This opens up the possibility of a truly global workforce like we’ve never seen before.”
Improved mental health
Not only would chrono working improve clients and stakeholders, but almost half (42%) of professionals in Australia feel that their mental health could be improved by trialling ‘chrono-working’, a recent Robert Walters study reveals.
The findings come amidst 39% of employees stating that their organisations flexible work policies are not tailored to their needs – with the majority of organisations taking a one-size fits all approach to flexible working such as 2-days in the office, or early finish Friday’s.
With almost half of Aussies saying chrono working would improve their mental health, and 11% of people expressing interest in experimenting with the chrono-working model so there is potential to see this trend make its way into the Australian workforce.
Additional benefits of chrono-working were explored in the survey. A significant 42% of respondents believed that their mental health would improve if they were able to work according to their natural sleeping pattern, leading to a better work-life balance. Additionally, 39% felt that having the freedom to choose their own work hours would enhance their productivity and focus. 9% believed that their sleep quality would improve significantly, while 10% expressed curiosity about the concept.
Evolving flexible working policies
When asked what flexible work policy they’d like to see their company pilot, a 4-day week (43%) came out on top – followed by being fully remote (24%) and working from anywhere around the world (23%).
Peters added that “hybrid working should not be seen as a one-size-fits-all solution for flexible working. Instead, employers should consider incorporating elements of different flexible working models that align with their business, such as the chrono-working model allowing early birds to start and finish earlier, and night owls to start later and make up the time by working later. This approach could yield benefits in terms of employee morale, sleep quality, and productivity levels.”
With flexible working policies here to stay following the pandemic, the opinions on chrono working revealed in the Robert Walters research highlights the need for organisations to continue to improve their flexible working policies to keep up with the evolving workforce.
As companies continue to explore new ways to optimise productivity and prioritise work-life balance, chrono-working emerges as a promising solution. With its potential to revolutionise the global job market, it is a trend that should not be ignored.
About Robert Walters
Robert Walters is one of the world’s leading specialist professional recruitment consultancies with a global presence spanning 31 countries. The Australian business recruits across the fields of accounting & finance, banking, engineering & operations, general management, human resources, information technology, legal, risk management, compliance & audit, sales, marketing & communications, secretarial & business support and supply chain & procurement.
