Is now the time to ask for flexibility?

It's hard to contemplate flexible work when so many people are losing their jobs. Many people I talk to feel good to be working at all, let alone working a flexible schedule. But now may be just the time to find some flexibility, especially if you are considering reducing your hours.

I received a call yesterday from Anita Bruzzese, a syndicated columnist and author who was working on a story related to the impact of the economy on jobs. She had recently spoken with a few people who were getting some additional time off from their employers who were trying to reduce costs. Many companies are looking to reduce work hours in order to avoid laying people off. Companies have found that by cutting hours, and thus reducing payroll costs, they can avoid the need to reduce staff levels. For example, a company could cut employees back to 4 days a week, or just ask each employee to work one day less each week.

In a time when companies are looking to cut costs from every angle, requesting a reduced work schedule could be a cost saving for your employer that is worth taking. If you can identify a way to work more efficiently or eliminate some unnecessary tasks, you could cut back a few hours each week to give you more time to manage your family. Obviously the cost saving for your employer translates to less money for you, but if you have more time to manage your life, you will likely find lots of opportunties to cut costs. It is worth considering.