The idea of flexible working hours is supposed to benefit both employers and employees. However, a new study shows that performance ultimately suffers if employees are constantly requested to be flexible for the needs of the company.

In theory, more flexible working hours will let companies request occasional overtime when needed in exchange for time off elsewhere. At the same time, it is supposed to help people strike a balance between work and family or private life, by letting them make time for some things and catching up with work later.

However, a study by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health shows that most of the flexibility has been one-sided. Fifty-four percent of employees say they have had to re-arrange their schedules because their jobs have required it. They say they routinely do overtime at least once a month.

Occupational Health researcher Irja Kandolin says that flexible schedules are counter-productive if employees are the ones required to be flexible all the time. She says this decreases productivity and harms the atmosphere in the workplace. Her research also shows that it increases stress.

Some employees, on the other hand, also know how to ask for flexibility from their employers. According to the report, 41 percent of employees have requested and received alternative time schedules. The figure is much less in the public sector.

The report was based on surveys conducted by Statistics Finland from the year 2003, in which 4,000 people from all employment sectors were interviewed.

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