Job satisfaction linked to flexible schedules.

• Position: Your Life

Giving employees something to smile about at the office may be as simple as offering them more control over their time, suggests a survey developed by OfficeTeam, Menlo Park, Calif., a staffing service specializing in highly skilled administrative professionals. One-third of workers polled said greater schedule flexibility would result in increased job satisfaction.

"Firms that have made staff reductions are relying heavily on remaining employees to assume expanded responsibilities," notes Liz Hughes, vice president of Office Team. "But more work often means longer hours, which can lead to burnout. A flexible schedule can alleviate some of the burden and allow for greater work-life balance for staff.

"The best managers focus on retaining top performers in any economy," she adds. "Turnover is costly, and employees who feel appreciated are less likely to leave when business conditions improve."

Hughes offers the following tips for managers investigating flexible work schedules for employees:

Focus on results, not face time. The best workers may not be the ones who log the most hours or provide the most detailed activity reports. Make sure team members are aware of how performance is...