Flexitime: Its Implementation in the Public Sector

Flexible work schedules (flexitime) which allow an employee some degree of freedom to select starting and quitting times are beginning to gain popularity in the public sector. Recent legislation is an indication of this growing interest. With the Federal Employees Flexible and Compressed Work Schedules Act of 1978, federal agencies are now permitted to experiment with alternate work schedules such as flexitime. ' This article discusses the benefits, problems, and main issues that are involved in the use of flexitime by government agencies and its implications for labor relations. As flexitime has only recently been introduced into the public sector, much of the information is taken from private sector experience.