“BOLSA M” – Employment exchange platform/network for women/mothers seeking flexible jobs (Bragard – Pro- bono project)
Times are changing and with them come new demands to the labor market, especially regarding women as in the workplace. The reigning 8-hour scheme is no longer the best fit for working women, who have kids or have been away from the market for a while, even more so after technological advances have made remote work possible. However, there is still a lot to be done when it comes to having all stakeholders adapt and educating themselves in these matters of relevance. To this day, there are very few sectors in our country that provide a range of alternatives for women seeking flexible jobs, and companies are still reluctant to consider other working schemes due to worn out preconceptions. We strongly believe there is a lot to learn from new experiences around the world, which add value both to the company and to the worker.
Our concern is raised especially when it comes to working mothers who have only recently given birth, the difficulties that come with trying to balance their new role as a mother and their duties as an employee, which can turn into a challenging career crisis. Our aim is to shift the mindset of key players in the market, with the hope to retain able, talented workers who would otherwise be lost.
“BOLSA M” has emerged from our long-time commitment to create and maintain the best possible working atmosphere inside our firm, paying special attention to maternity matters in order to provide our working mothers the possibility to combine their maternity with their career. In this sense, we have implemented different examples of labor flexibility among our female employees, such as: part time schedule, home office, working by assignment, working alternate days, etc.
It is a reality that the point in a woman’s life where there is an outburst of professional growth and motherhood tend to overlap, and in this sense, BOLSA M has two main goals: (i) to prove to companies how a more flexible time schedule will benefit them in the long term in several ways and; (ii) act as intermediaries among companies and potential employees providing a platform, where they can get in touch. Moreover, BOLSA M seeks to help new mothers reinsert themselves in the labor market.
We have learned first-handedly that these benefits for our female employees have made us grow stronger as a firm. We have achieved a solid and more experienced team by retaining our women talents, who are all now striving in their careers.
It is important to understand, what kind of flexibility can we offer/be offered by a Company?
PART-TIME
Work half schedule (4 hours)
REDUCED DAY
Work 6 or 7 hours in a row, leaving the mid-day break for the end of the day to be able to leave before
COMBINED SCHEDULE
Work certain hours at the office and the rest from home
ALTERNATE DAYS
Work certain days at the office and others via remote work
HOME OFFICE
Work from home remotely and attend the office only for meetings
WORK BY PROJECT/ASSIGNMENT
Work independently on each assigned project
FULL TIME WITH FLEXIBLE HOURS
Comply 8 hours of work but with free time, entry and exit and possibility of compensating hours on different days.
Benefits of flexible work schedules for employers
Attracting talent. Offering flexible work arrangements can allow employers to recruit talented candidates who would otherwise may have been out of their reach.
Reduced costs. Some of these schemes do not require office space, and thus help reduce costs.
Increased productivity. Evidence show that productivity is improved when working under friendly conditions that employees are comfortable with.
Increased creativity. Happy, motivated employees are likely to be grateful for flexible working hours, and may be more eager to engage with their organization and make a valuable contribution.
Ease of management. If employees are eager to work flexibly, they will aim to cause as little disruption as possible, minimizing the input needed from their manager.
Improved well-being. Employee well-being is a key concern for many managers across several companies, and rightly so. Taking steps to encourage employees to have passion and enthusiasm for their job can be critical to retain top talent. Offering flexible work to employees can boost morale and improve their physical and mental well-being. When staff members enjoy flexible work arrangements, they are likely to be less tired and better rested, reducing the risks of fatigue, burnout and stress. As a result, they will be able to give their all on a daily basis.
Staff retention. Many employees view being offered flexible working hours as a sign they are valued by the company. Those who have other responsibilities or out-of-work interests may see flexible work arrangements as an absolute must or a deal-breaker for any organization.
It is also very important to point out that when labor flexibility is used appropriately, with the necessary level of commitment by the employee, both parties can reap the maximum benefits.
We wish BOLSA M can contribute to help companies and employees to combine their professional and personal life in the best possible way.
For additional information please visit http://www.bda.com.uy/en/business-responsibility/
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