Gallup’s latest report delivers a compelling message to company leaders: it’s time to reassess your work flexibility policies. The report, published on September 15, highlights a fascinating revelation—company leaders often misjudge their employees’ desires to blend work and personal life versus a traditional 9-to-5 workday.
The Gallup report identifies two types of employees: the “blenders” who prefer a seamless mix of work and personal time during the day and the “splitters” who value a clear-cut 9-to-5 schedule with dedicated focus time. The critical insight here is that both these groups can be engaged and productive at work if their preferences and needs are acknowledged and accommodated.
The report unveils a nearly even 50/50 divide between “splitters” and “blenders” among workers. This balance implies that assuming all employees prefer the same working style can lead to workplace conflicts and interpersonal misunderstandings. However, this situation can cause employees to feel as though they are being disrespected, disengaged from the work, burnout, and even lead to job hunting.
Gallup suggests that leaders should talk to their team members and find out whether they are splitters or blenders. By doing this, friction levels will be reduced and productivity will be enhanced.
It is worth mentioning that work style preferences differ from one industry to another. The balance in every industry is 50/50 to 60/40. The effectiveness of your flexibility policies significantly influences how your employees’ work style preferences impact their work-life balance, job satisfaction, and retention rates. In a world where work-life boundaries are blurred out, accommodating different choices can be game-changing for a productive and happy workforce.
