Sloan Award Winners show that workplace flexibility improves business results by…

Increasing employee engagement and retention
Despite personnel shortages in the health care industry, the VCU Health System in Richmond, Virginia, with 7,650 employees, retains and engages them through its flexible self-scheduling, reduced workweek option, and Weekend Scholars program – 90% of employees are positive about their work schedule and 90% would recommend VCU as a place to work

Reducing turnover
The Houston accounting firm PKF Texas with 140 employees has reduced turnover of their client service personnel to 12%, about half the industry average, while doubling the size of their firm and growing revenues by 22% to 30% per year. Highly sought employees accept job offers and stay because they have choices in work hours, workspace and future work plans

Reducing absenteeism and sick days
Continental Airlines offers 25 flexible programs to its 2000 Houston employees, including a program that allows reservation agents to work from home and an on-line program for self-scheduling shifts and vacation time – and the payoff is a 5% attrition rate in an industry with a 50% norm, perfect attendance for 34% of its employees, and only 2-3% lost time per month. The work-from-home option also supports efforts led by the mayor’s office to reduce traffic congestion in Houston

Increasing Customer Satisfaction
75% of the customers at 1-800-Contacts are returning customers, and their business has propelled sales from $3 million to $250 and increased the staff size to 320 in 11 years. Clients are pleased with the service they receive from the committed staff, who appreciate the company’s bold approach, including the option to work from home, an on-site restaurant run by a gourmet chef and a Wellness Center. Most turnovers in call centers occur within the first six months, but the average length of service at 1-800-Contacts is two years

Reducing business costs
At Capital One in Washington D.C., cubicles and corner offices are giving way to the “Future of Work” with open workspaces and home offices, and increased use of wireless laptops, BlackBerry devices and Intranet capabilities. The bank’s 862 employees can also choose flextime arrangements like compressed work-weeks and part-time schedules. The result: reduced occupancy costs and higher productivity – 80% of employees are satisfied with the workplace and 74% say the company‘s Future of Work program helps them work as productively as possible

Increasing productivity and profitability
Enterprise Rent-a-Car in Salt Lake City, with 36 employees, has measured a 12% gain in profitability and reduced average hours worked by 3.25 since they began training managers three years ago on the importance of helping employees manage their careers and personal lives

Improving staffing coverage to meet business demands
After a busy tax season and longer hours, employees at the accounting firm Abalos & Associates in Chandler, Arizona (16 employees) can work 4 days during the summer. They can also log on from home to work the required number of hours per year and help meet peek demands in ways that work for them and for the firm

To find out more about the Alfred P. Sloan Awards for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility, click here