A Smoother Transition Is a Flexit Policy Right for Your Business?
“I’m putting in my two weeks’ notice” is a phrase no boss likes to hear. Though good managers will approach the situation gracefully, there’s much to accomplish in very little time. Sorting out your soon- to-be-former employee’s projects, reassigning the work, and hiring and training someone new takes more than two weeks. But what if there was a better way? More companies, including LinkedIn and Netflix, are pursuing flexible exit policies in their businesses. In most workplace cultures, few, if any, employees will tell you when they’re looking for a new job. Workers fear retaliation, even to the point of being fired. They also worry about finding a new job and want to preserve their existing workplace relationships. So, they job hunt in secret — to the detriment of you and your team. Many employers have used flexible exit strategies for years regarding retirement. The final work day is often planned months in advance, giving everyone time to create a seamless transition. It creates a better experience for everyone involved. What if you treated your other employees the same way? Most of your employees will leave your company someday. It pays to create an open relationship that will allow for a heads- up when they do.
Newsletter Pro has pursued a flexible exit policy at our workplace; we call it Flexit. Under Flexit, we encourage our employees to tell management when they’re looking for a new job. Rather than retaliate against this disclosure, we collaborate with the employee to ensure a minimally disruptive transition. We also appreciate their honesty and reward it by giving them the flexibility to interview. Our Flexit policy has helped us avoid disruption in service for our clients and stay on top of deadlines. But making Flexit work requires more than telling employees about it. Your business must also cultivate an environment that roots for its employees, even when they take their talents elsewhere. When distrust permeates a workplace, few employees will tell you about their plans. But if your company can make it work, a flexible exit policy generally has many more benefits than risks. Accepting that our business relationships with each other will change over time makes for a less stressful workplace and life. Flexit can help you and your employees part ways on the same positive note that has defined your working relationship.
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