Flexible Daily Work Schedules in US Jobs: Formal Introductions?

Abstract

The incidence of flexible daily work scheduling among workers presumably reflects employers' offering it formally as an organizational productivity-enhancing tool or less formally as a job amenity and/or discretionary employee benefit. Recent US CPS data distinguish whether a worker's flexible schedule is part of a formal workplace program. Probit regression estimation reveals that disparities among workers in their ability to influence their own starting and ending times of work derive largely from the allocation of informal flexibility arrangements according to demographic, hours of work and occupational characteristics. White-collar, long hours, private sector, salaried, nonunion jobs, parents and males have greater access to such scheduling flexibility. This advantage is gained primarily through means other than a formal flexitime plan. Policies promoting implementation of formal programs would enhance equity in access.