We are working to make Houston a leader in flexible workplace practices. As one of the 5 points in the Mayor White's mobility program, flexible workplaces will improve mobility and has shown to improve work productivity.
PROGRAM DESIGN
The program is working with the top executives of large employers in high-congested areas to adopt flexible, productive work places. In some cases, it involves changing the paradigm of where and when work happens.
By moving even a relatively small number of people off the roads during peak congestion times we will be able to measure an improvement in mobility and help employers measure productivity.
This program works hand in hand with Metro's and H-GAC's mass transit and Commute Solutions programs.
WHY THE MAYOR'S FOCUS? It needs focus at the top. Mayor White is working with the top executives to create a paradigm shift in where and when Houstonians work. It is the top leaders who can change the policies and practices that can increase mobility, retention and productivity by asking:
Which employees need to be at the office every day?
Which jobs and which employees can work well with telework and/or compressed workweeks? Successful leaders know that "work is what you do, not a place to go".
When do employees need to be at the office?
If employees do need to be in the office - can they arrive and leave before or after peak congestion time?
How do employees get to the office?
How can we encourage and support car pools and mass transit.
Flexible workplace needs new emphasis.
Studies show that the number of U.S. workers on flexible schedules has dropped in the last 3 years.
Many employers have flexible work practices that are underused because the company's culture does not encourage its use.
Current employer's efforts - while appreciated - impact mostly Fridays. How we can extend the Friday effect to impact other days of the workweek?
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WILL ...
The Mayor's Office will work with employers to:
Capture what employers are currently doing.
Benchmark and share programs that are working well.
Measure where we are (establish a baseline) and measure impact on the roadways.
Work with employers to design programs or add structure to informal/underused programs.
Encourage employers to take innovative steps in designing flexible, productive workplaces.
Recognize successful employers.
A steering committee of human resource and transportation professionals has been established to help brainstorm and problem solve throughout implementation of this initiative. Kathleen Kelley will direct this effort and is available to work with employers to define the appropriate participants, programs and productivity measures along with ways to measure program success.
PARTNERS: H-GAC, METRO, GHP
While the Mayor's office is focused on flexible schedules; we are partnering with and strongly support H-GAC and Metro's work in mass transit and car-pooling. Any shifting of work practice that moves employees from mass transit or car-pooling to drive alone commuting is not in line with this program.
This program is working closely with The Greater Houston Partnership (GHP) in their efforts to improve mobility and quality-of-life in Houston.
DEFINITIONS
Telework - allows employees to work at home or at another satellite location during all or some portion of the workweek
Compressed workweek - allows employees to work the standard workweek in fewer days
Flextime - allows employees to arrive and leave work outside the peak travel times
METRICS Having Metrics in place is essential for establishing flexible workplace programs. Studies show that even a small number of vehicles reduced at peak time have a measurable effect on mobility.
Items that will be measured can include:
Employer's current use of flexible workplace programs
Arrival and departure time of employees into the workplace or parking garage
Current traffic congestion
Freeway congestion/intersection congestion
Change in use of flexible workplace programs and corresponding change in congestion/travel time
WHAT WE'RE ASKING OF YOU
We are asking the top executives to serve as trailblazer in offering flexible work place solutions
We are asking employers to help us to document their current programs; benchmark successful programs and share what works
We are challenging employers to see what else they can do to keep employees off the streets during peak hours
We are asking participating employers to help us measure and celebrate the successes.
MAYOR'S INVITATION TO GET INVOLVED Shirley Crews Taylor is our point person for the Flexible Workplace Program. She is available to answer questions and to work with employers to help capture, design, and implement and measure success.
CONTACT FLEXWORKS AT:
Shirley Crews Taylor
Director, Flexible Workplace Initiative
City of Houston - Planning and Development Department
