Work Flexibility to Support Well-Being
Flexible work schedules benefit employees, employers, and communities. They support mental and physical health, reduce turnover, and improve organizational resilience. As the behavioral health workforce evolves, flexibility has become a key strategy for both retention and recruitment.
From remote work to compressed schedules, these policies help agencies meet staff where they are, especially those balancing caregiving, health needs, or long commutes. They also signal to prospective employees that your organization values well-being and balance.
What Flexibility Can Look Like
Common types of flexible work arrangements include:
- Remote work: Working off-site some or all of the time
- Hybrid schedules: A mix of in-person and remote work
- Flextime: Adjusting start and end times around personal needs
- Compressed workweeks: Working longer hours over fewer days (e.g., four 10-hour days)
Benefits for Employees
- Improved work-life balance: Helps staff manage caregiving, appointments, or personal needs
- Increased productivity: People can work during their most focused hours
- Lower commuting costs: Saves time, money, and stress
- Greater satisfaction and retention: Autonomy leads to higher engagement
- Improved health: Flexibility supports healthier eating, movement, and stress reduction
Benefits for Employers
- Higher productivity: Focused employees produce better results
- Reduced overhead costs: Less need for workspace, parking, or supplies
- Lower turnover and absenteeism: Happier staff are more likely to stay
- Larger talent pool: Flexibility attracts candidates who need location or schedule accommodations
- Stronger morale and reputation: Shows your organization trusts and values its people
Community Benefits
- Environmental impact: Fewer commutes reduce emissions and traffic
- Local economic support: Employees working remotely spend more in their own communities
How to Implement Flexible Work Policies
You don’t have to overhaul everything at once! Start small, test, and adapt.
Pilot First
Run a trial with a small group or team to see what works best for your staff and your clients.
Build Infrastructure
Create policies and supports that align with your agency’s mission and roles. Flexibility won’t look the same for every job, but most roles can include some flexibility.
Listen & Adjust
Use surveys or check-ins to gather staff input. What works for one team may not for another, but you can still find solutions that work across roles.
Spotlight: Heritage Behavioral Health
In July of 2023, Heritage “walked the walk” of ensuring wellness not only for program participants but also for their employees via their Wellness Days Initiative.
Wellness Days at Heritage Behavioral Health Center give all full-time staff every other Friday (8 hours) as a paid day off. This initiative results in 26 days outside of traditional Paid Time Off and Sick Leave for employees to prioritize their various wellness needs.
Employees at Heritage, in part due to their additional Wellness Days, can receive up to 56 days off per year in their first year of employment.
Some benefits reported because of this initiative include:
- A positive work culture
- Commitment to overall staff wellness
- Productive, focused workdays with fewer distractions
- Empowerment of staff providing high-quality client care
Sources
- American Psychological Association. (2024). Flexible work schedules and mental health. Read more
- Psychology Today. (2024). The real impact of flexible work on mental health. Read article
- Ding, Y. & Ma, M. S. (2024). Mental Health Benefits of Workplace Flexibility
- UC Berkeley. Flexible work arrangements: What to consider. Read more
- Castrillon, C. (2022). Why flexible work boosts productivity, Forbes. Read article
- ActivTrak. Flexible work arrangement examples. Read more
- Indeed. Workplace flexibility overview. Read more
- Great Place to Work. Examples of workplace flexibility. Read more
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