Questions to Ask Employees About Flexible Working
Strategic questions to ask employees about flexible working arrangements, helping you understand their needs and create effective work-from-home policies.
1What would flexible working arrangements mean to you?
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What would flexible working arrangements mean to you?
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Why this works
Reveals their personal definition while providing insight into their expectations and needs for flexible work arrangements.
2What are the main challenges you currently face with your work schedule?
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What are the main challenges you currently face with your work schedule?
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Why this works
Shows their current pain points while revealing specific issues that flexible working could address.
3How would flexible working improve your work-life balance?
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How would flexible working improve your work-life balance?
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Why this works
Reveals their personal needs while providing insight into how flexibility would benefit their overall well-being.
4What type of flexible working arrangement would work best for you?
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What type of flexible working arrangement would work best for you?
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Why this works
Shows their preferences while revealing whether they prefer remote work, flexible hours, or hybrid arrangements.
5How do you think flexible working would impact your productivity?
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How do you think flexible working would impact your productivity?
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Why this works
Reveals their perspective on productivity while providing insight into their understanding of how flexibility affects work output.
6What concerns do you have about flexible working arrangements?
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What concerns do you have about flexible working arrangements?
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Why this works
Shows their hesitations while revealing potential challenges or obstacles that need to be addressed.
7How would you communicate and collaborate with your team under flexible working?
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How would you communicate and collaborate with your team under flexible working?
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Why this works
Reveals their collaboration approach while providing insight into how they would maintain team connection in flexible arrangements.
8What tools or resources would you need to work effectively from home?
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What tools or resources would you need to work effectively from home?
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Why this works
Shows their practical needs while revealing specific resources required for successful remote work.
9How would you manage your time and priorities with flexible working?
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How would you manage your time and priorities with flexible working?
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Why this works
Reveals their time management skills while providing insight into their approach to self-directed work.
10What boundaries would you set between work and personal time?
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What boundaries would you set between work and personal time?
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Why this works
Shows their work-life integration approach while revealing their understanding of maintaining healthy boundaries.
11How would flexible working impact your career development?
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How would flexible working impact your career development?
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Why this works
Reveals their career concerns while providing insight into how they view the relationship between flexibility and advancement.
12What would help you stay connected to the company culture with flexible working?
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What would help you stay connected to the company culture with flexible working?
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Why this works
Shows their culture needs while revealing what they consider important for maintaining organizational connection.
13How would you handle situations that require in-person collaboration?
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How would you handle situations that require in-person collaboration?
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Why this works
Reveals their flexibility while providing insight into their willingness to come into the office when needed.
14What metrics would you use to measure your success with flexible working?
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What metrics would you use to measure your success with flexible working?
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Why this works
Shows their accountability approach while revealing how they would track their own performance.
15How would flexible working affect your relationships with colleagues?
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How would flexible working affect your relationships with colleagues?
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Why this works
Reveals their social needs while providing insight into their concerns about maintaining workplace relationships.
16What would make flexible working successful for you and the team?
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What would make flexible working successful for you and the team?
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Why this works
Shows their team perspective while revealing their understanding of what makes flexible arrangements work effectively.
17How would you prefer to communicate with managers and colleagues?
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How would you prefer to communicate with managers and colleagues?
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Why this works
Reveals their communication preferences while providing insight into their preferred communication methods and frequency.
18What challenges do you anticipate with flexible working and how would you overcome them?
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What challenges do you anticipate with flexible working and how would you overcome them?
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Why this works
Shows their problem-solving skills while revealing their preparedness for potential obstacles.
19How would you ensure you remain visible and engaged with flexible working?
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How would you ensure you remain visible and engaged with flexible working?
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Why this works
Reveals their engagement approach while providing insight into how they would maintain presence and participation.
20What support would you need from management to make flexible working successful?
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What support would you need from management to make flexible working successful?
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Why this works
Shows their support needs while revealing what they expect from leadership to enable successful flexible work.
Best Practices for Flexible Working Discussions
Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.
Best Practices
Create a Safe Environment for Honest Feedback
Ensure employees feel comfortable sharing their needs and concerns without fear of negative consequences.
Focus on Individual Needs and Preferences
Recognize that flexible working means different things to different people and tailor arrangements accordingly.
Discuss Both Benefits and Challenges
Have balanced conversations that address both the advantages and potential difficulties of flexible working.
Question Sequences
The Needs Assessment
The Implementation Focus
Common Pitfalls
Don't Assume One Size Fits All
Recognize that different employees have different needs and preferences for flexible working arrangements.
Avoid Focusing Only on the Positives
Discuss potential challenges and concerns openly to create realistic expectations and address obstacles proactively.
Don't Skip the Practical Details
Ask about specific tools, resources, and support needed to make flexible working arrangements successful.