Workplace Flexibility 

SHRM believes that the United States must have a 21st century workplace flexibility policy that meets the needs of both employers and employees. Rather than a one-size-fits-all government mandate, the policy should be a new approach that reflects different work environments, representation, industries and organizational size.

To access SHRM's Workplace Flexibility Resource Page, click HERE.

Flexible workplace policies are designed to support employees in balancing their work and family obligations; provide paid leave to the employee; and at the same time provide certainty, predictability and stability to employers. Under this new approach, employers that meet a safe harbor leave standard would not be subject to federal, state and local leave requirements. Alternatively, employers that chose not to offer this leave standard would be subject to existing federal leave requirements.

Employer Perspectives on Flexibility in the Manufacturing and Financial Service Sectors, as well as the Hourly Workforce

SHRM and several other organizations recently convened a series of focus groups addressing workplace flexibility within the Manufacturing and Financial Services sectors, as well as the Hourly Workforce.  Below are the focus group summaries which address the business drivers, solutions, critical success factors and impacts of flexible work practices within the context of these segments of the economy. 

• To view the summary of the Manufacturing focus group, click HERE.
• To view the summary of the Hourly Workforce focus group, click HERE.
• To view the summary of the Financial Services focus group, click HERE.

SHRM Joins Partner Coalition to Advance Workplace Flexibility

In July 2010, SHRM joined a national campaign to engage the business community and broaden awareness for the positive business and employee benefits of workplace flexibility. The Society and its Partner Coalition currently are recruiting "Business Champions" to this campaign to join a select group of best-practice corporate leaders that recognize flexibility as a critical strategy to ensure success in the global economy. 

To access the recruitment form to join the Partner Coalition as a business champion, click on the link below and either e-mail or fax it back to SHRM to the attention of Lisa Horn at 703/535-6492. 

• Statement of Support for Exapanding Workplace Flexiblity 

To read more about the Partner Coalition on Workplace Flexibility, click HERE. 

In a letter to all U.S. Senators and Representatives, then-SHRM President and CEO Laurence O'Neil announced on May 7, 2009, that the Society is committed to leading all stakeholders in the debate over the 21st Century workplace flexibility policy that meets the needs of both employees and employers. "We believe employers should be encouraged to provide the paid leave their workforces need, and let employees decide how to use it."

To learn more about SHRM's Workplace Flexibility and how it would work in today's workplaces, click on the links below:

• SHRM Testimony before the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections on the Work Life Balance Award Act - 04/22/10
• SHRM Testimony before the Senate HELP Committee, Subcommittee on Children an Families, on H1N1 Sick Leave - 11.10.09
• SHRM COO China Gorman Testimony Submitted to Committee on Education and Labor, Subcommittee on Workforce Protections - 6.11.09
• SHRM Workplace Flexibility Public Policy Statement
• Principles for a 21^st Century Workplace Flexibility Policy
• Workplace Flexibility Letter to Capitol Hill
• Examining Paid Leave in the Workplace
• Workplace Flexibility Press Release

Additional Resources

• Workplace Flexibility Fact Sheet

For background information on current Federal law involving Workplace Flexibility, click on the link below:

• The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993