For today's workers, flexibility is in fashion.
From flexible benefits to flexible working environments, companies are starting to offer creative, non-traditional benefits to attract and retain employees. One example is adopting a results-only work environment.
Here's what you need to know about the ROWE trend.
ROWE is a work approach in which employees are entirely autonomous and responsible for delivering outcomes.
A ROWE model shifts the focus from hours worked to results achieved. It provides employees complete autonomy over their work's timing, location, and methodology; instead of being bound to a specific workplace or schedule, employees are responsible for achieving desired outcomes.
This tactic rests on the principle that companies recruit individuals to produce clear, measurable results. Managers focus on managing the work being accomplished rather than how other people work.
That said, employees don't need to work certain hours or be in the office if they meet their performance metrics. This model is different from flexible working hours, as there is still an expectation within those environments that employees will work a certain number of hours.
A ROWE can deliver tremendous benefits for a company but can also be complicated to execute. ROWE doesn't make the work easier but can make it less stressful.
Here are a few pros and cons to think about if you are considering ROWE:
Pros:
Cons:
Some misconceptions about ROWE are worth addressing. With ROWE, you're still communicating with your team, just not on a fixed schedule. Communication becomes more flexible and intentional. Additionally, just because a ROWE model offers flexibility in working hours doesn't mean you can't stick to a set schedule; if working between 9-5 works for you and your needs, by all means, stick to it. Lastly, in a ROWE, you can still have the same emphasis on connection and social gathering—the only difference is it's not mandatory.
While ROWEs aren't yet the standard for workplace environments, there are a few companies that have implemented one:
ROWEs are just one example of flexibility you can implement in a workplace to attract and retain employees. Employers are getting more creative and offering non-traditional benefits, such as convertible PTO, to cater to their employees' unique needs. Learn more about how PTO Exchange can help you add flexible benefits to your benefits program.