Most companies I spoke with this week said their “flat organization” was an important perk for their employees. Why would a flat organization be considered a perk?  

I’ve been on both sides of the fence, working for a company that has 10,000+ employees, and working for many companies that have less than 5 employees, so I thought I would offer up my take.  

Number one, a flat organization usually creates responsibility - employees are responsible for entire business units or entire projects from start to finish.  When employees are given responsibility, they tend to get inspired because their contributions will have a direct result on customers, the product or the company as a whole.  Employees feel good because their work is important and it gets noticed.

Number two, a flat organization usually creates job variety - and this keeps things interesting.  Because you can’t dish off work to your assistant or other departments, chances are that you’ll have to figure everything out yourself.  Its not uncommon in small companies for sales people to get heavily involved in marketing or developers to help with customer service. 

Last, a flat organization usually eliminates office politics.  Because larger companies are filled with layers and layers of management, many people are constantly positioning themselves for their the next promotion. Working in a flat organization means that what’s most important is getting the work done.  If the work get’s done, you’ll get noticed - it doesn’t matter how fancy your spreadsheet or powerpoint is.  

When the team is in good mind and body spirits there’s a good chance they’ll come to work with the energy and the motivation to help the business succeed, and more companies are seeing the value in offering employee fitness and wellness programs to see this through.

We all know regular physical activity has its health benefits, but maintaining an active lifestyle isn’t always easy when you’re planning around work hours and personal commitments. Wouldn’t you think you’d pay more attention to your wellness if your employer would support the endeavor? Some companies like Kik Interactive are helping employees stay happy and healthy by offering a free fitness a membership and are even on the verge of opening a gym onsite. These active living policies and programs have been proven to reduce absenteeism, injuries, accidents, and health care costs, and even attract and retain the best talent as per a recent CTV story on SAS Incorporated.

Instilling health and wellness goals into company morale doesn’t have to been complicated or expensive. Here are some ideas for promoting active living in the workplace:

• Corporate discounts or group rates at fitness clubs and studios
• Arranging company sports teams such as soccer, baseball, hockey and volleyball for week nights and weekends
• Encouraging employees to participate in company sponsored marathons
• Offering on-site health professionals such as personal trainers, massage therapists and registered dieticians
• Physical activity campaigns to motivate employees to set and reach fitness goals
• Bike racks and fitness equipment storage at the office
• Gym and shower facilities on-site
• Flexible work schedules to allow more opportunities to participate in fitness programs as part  of the work day

What are some of the advantages?  For parents looking to balance work and family demands, or Baby Boomers who aren’t quite ready to fully retire, a flexible work arrangement gives the freedom to manage your professional and personal life according to your specific needs. Think avoiding rush-hour traffic with a later start time, or finishing the day early enough to get the kids from school.

You could take a mid-day break to hit the gym, or finish up your daily tasks in pyjamas after dinner. The work will still get done and you won’t feel like you’ve wasted the best parts of the day commuting or sitting in a cubicle.

The traditional nine to five work day and five day week are no longer King as employers are happy to offer schedules that will attract, retain and motivate high-performing talent. Small business owners and seasoned executives are experimenting with cutting down the traditional work week to give team members time to research, brainstorm and stay current on industry news.

It’s an appreciated perk that can enhance any organization’s culture and keep employees fresh and engaged. Stress levels will be diluted, satisfaction and productivity will be amplified and you can get the job done without neglecting your other interests and commitments- definitely something to talk about during your salary negotiation process. 

Pros

Cut down your daily commute

Living close to work is a luxury that not many of us have. Commuting by train or driving into work can test your patience—especially during the long, snowy, Canadian winters. Working from home allows for rush-hour breathers during the week. So, no more gridlock on the Gardiner, fighting for parking at the GO station, or playing sardines on the TTC.

Dress to impress? N/A

Unless your company invests in ergo-dynamic office furniture, chances are you probably sit in a regular office chair. One that’s uncomfortable after long stretches, especially in work clothes. At home, pull on your pjs, sweats, your ratty university frosh t-shirt—it doesn’t matter. In other words, at home, you can wear what you want.

Work on your own schedule

Companies are also encouraging schedules based on flex hours. It works like this: “We don’t care where you do it, just get your work done.” Meaning, as long as you’re a contributing, high-functioning member of the company, you can work wherever you want. Working on your own schedule means that while you’re working from home, you can also be doing a load of laundry. It’s multitasking at its best.

Cons

Just how disciplined are you?

Take a look around your home; it’s full of distractions! From chores, to the TV, Internet, and a pantry full of snacks—they’re everywhere. If you’re working from home, you need a clutter-free area where you can concentrate for both short and long periods of time. Set aside breaks to do the dishes, but remember, you’re still on the company clock.

You’re out of the office loop

Face time is important. Not the Apple application, but face-to-face interaction with coworkers. The solution may be to work only a day or two at home, and the rest in the office; or you can make a conscious decision to socialize with your peers. You’re not part of the team if you’re shut in at home, so don’t forget to go that extra mile. Especially, since you don’t have to on the days you’re working from home.

Work = home = work

Just because you have your “home office,” doesn’t mean that home = work. If you have a significant other or kids, this will be your downfall. Get your work done when you’re supposed to, and enjoy the time you have “after” work.

The bottom line is this: working at home can be the ideal solution to a healthy work-life balance, but it isn’t without downfalls. Weigh out the pros and cons, and discuss them with your boss. If you can present a solid case on why you should be working from home one or more days a week, you may find yourself rolling out of bed and into your home office in no time.*

*Dependent entirely on your work culture/rules, of course. Every company is different, and we realize that. But hey, it’s worth a shot. 

Two years ago, I transitioned from a two hour daily commute to a 40 minute commute.  Ever since I've been able to spend more time at the gym, sign up for after work volleyball, and even cook dinner at home every once and a while.

More companies are starting to realize that getting to your desk can waste precious time and money, and some companies are working at making the commute less painful on their employee’s health and pocket book. Being a commuter-friendly company doesn't necessarily mean that you have to be located in downtown Toronto.  Some companies offer shuttle bus services and car pool programs that give employees peace of mind and convenience.  Freshbooks is a good example as they provide a daily subway shuttle service for employees to get to their north Toronto location in peace.  

Other commuter friendlly benefits to consider are being in close proximity to bike routes and public transit stops, or subsidized transit passes to encourage employees to ditch their car. 

If you've got no energy left for things you like to do at the end of the day, brainstorm ways on how you can change up your daily commute somehow.