Another workplace term for you this week. How about this one – fake flexibility.

It’s a situation that I’ve bumped into a few times over the last month or so in sort of a bait and switch kind of way.

Fake flexibility 🤦 is when companies offer employees the ability to work remotely or flexibly, but then make it difficult or impossible for them to actually do so. This can be done in a number of ways, such as:

• Requiring employees to be available during certain hours, even if they’re working from home. ⏰

• Micromanaging employees’ work hours and productivity. 👀

• Creating a culture of presenteeism, where employees feel pressure to be in the office even if they don’t need to be. 🏢

A recent study by CNBC found that 40% of employees believe that their company offers fake flexibility. 📊 And a study by Lifehacker found that the three most common signs of fake flexibility are:

• Your boss asks you to be available during certain hours, even if you’re working from home. 📲

• You feel like you have to check in with your boss or coworkers constantly, even if you’re not working on a project together. 🙋‍♀️

• You feel like you’re being judged for not being in the office, even if you’re getting your work done. 👫

If you’re concerned that your company is offering fake flexibility, there are a few things you can do:

• Talk to your boss about your concerns. 🗣️

• Look at your company’s policies and procedures to see if they actually support flexibility. 📝

• Talk to your coworkers to see if they’re experiencing the same thing. 👥

If you’re not happy with the way your company is handling flexibility, you may want to consider looking elsewhere. 💼 There are plenty of companies out there that are truly committed to offering their employees real flexibility.

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