How Can We Keep Our Flexible Work Style While Introducing Swipe-In Cards?

Hi friends,

I work for a startup, and so far the employees have enjoyed a flexible work style (they can come at any time and leave at any time, provided deliverables have been taken care of). However, since we are growing, management would like to introduce some work culture by implementing a "swipe-in card". I understand that employees do not like this change. Can anyone suggest a way to retain this flexible work style, at least partially?

Thanks,
JJ.

Hi,

You can give them 1-2 hours of flexibility for the In-time. If your office is starting at 9:30 am, you can allow people to come until 11 am.

This works.

Umesh

Hi JJ,

Divide the workers into two teams - the ones who come early can leave early, taking it up from Umesh. You start at 9/9.30 - the first team comes up, clears all the pending/urgent tasks, and leaves by 5.30/6 (with a 30-minute break for lunch). The second team comes in at 10.30/11 to take up. They can finish the remaining work and leave by 7/7.30 PM (eligible for a break).

What do you do then? Develop two sets of leaders to handle these teams and coordinate the tasks. You now have two people growing (bringing happiness for the promoted individuals and jealousy for those left out). This way, the team can progress.

Change the team order every week or every alternate week. Hopefully, this should work, or else it will bring uniform time to the team members.

Hey JJ,

Hold on - just a thought. Have the allotted time slots for one month and change it for the next month - that is if you are using a swipe card (there might be a problem otherwise programming every week). Else, things remain the same.

Thanks for the appreciation for both of us - the initial idea from Umesh really made me think. (See, I am being forced to use my brain.)

Try this mentioned below:

Weekly Working Hours - 44 - 48 (if 5.5 or 6 Working Days)

Daily, a person needs to work a minimum of 6 hours. That is if he enters, he needs to be a minimum of 6 hours. Beyond that, the person can stay as per his comfort.

The office can be kept open for at least 16 hours in a day, from 6 AM to 10 PM. Anytime the employees can walk in. Time will be purely calculated based on the Swipe Card.

Also, give them incentives/prizes (something motivational) for teams that consistently achieve the time schedules for 3 months/every quarter. We have implemented the same in our last company and have had good success.