When I was in the throes of getting my PhD, the idea of “work flexibility” simply wasn’t on my radar. Late nights, constant reading, and dissertation writing made sure of that.
I was miserable.
But everything changed the day I finished and snagged a flexible teaching job.
My relationship with time transformed.
My stress levels plummeted.
I rediscovered self-care and personal joys.
Today, as a parent, I can drop everything when the school calls because (name redacted) just had a pants-shitting accident at school and is holed up in the bathroom.
Advice: Bring a paper bag and lighter fluid. Talk softly, be supportive, trauma taking place.
These are the benefits you can reap with a flexible work arrangement (FWA), one where you significantly control when and where you work.
Everybody knows this superpower over work impacts our lives. But how much does it really matter for your happiness and why?
Let’s dig into the data.
The science of flexibility and happiness
First, studies show that FWAs positively impact job satisfaction, which then impacts job performance. Simply put, flexibility makes for a happier and more productive worker.
One meta-analysis showed that FWAs led to higher job satisfaction, which in turn leads to higher life satisfaction. There’s a strong connection between how you feel about your job and how you feel about your life. This is called the “spillover effect.”
Quick pearl: The same analysis found that choosing when you work has more impact on satisfaction than choosing where you work. If you have to choose one or the other, consider giving the nod to hours over location.
Different theories explain the connection between FWAs, job satisfaction, and happiness:
- Social exchange theory zooms in on our cost-benefit analysis brains. An FWA is a benefit, which makes us feel better compensated. We then feel better about work and are happier.
- Conservation of Resources theory suggests we’re motivated by building and protecting resources. FWAs help us build resources elsewhere (social, personal, etc.). More resources, more well-being, more happiness.
- Boundary theory focuses on roles. FWAs let us transition between “employee”, “parent”, and “spouse” easier. Thus we’re better parents and spouses, which contributes to life satisfaction.
EXAMPLE: Not more than 10 minutes ago, I took a writing break to set up a date night for me and the wife. (Tommy Davidson better still be funny). Being able to hop the boundary from worker to husband improved my marriage and home life. Now I’m happier and will possibly get laid. (Tommy Davidson better still be sexy.)
Pick your theory or combo and run with it. Whatever the case, they combine to explain a couple of things:
- Why the General Social Survey (GSS) found that work flexibility increases job satisfaction by 62%, and reduces work stress by 20%.
- Why job satisfaction has been shown to heavily impact life satisfaction and happiness, both in the short and long term. Again, the idea of the “spillover effect.”
Putting it all together, we can visualize the path from flexible work to more happiness:
Who gets FWAs? The impact of industry and job type
The onus for finding work-life balance is often placed on the individual. People talk about setting boundaries, time management, and practicing self-care.
This is all good advice. But it skips a critical question: Do you have a flexible job in an amenable industry?
Workplace studies show that certain industries cater to flexibility better than others. Some by leaps and bounds.
Upper-level jobs typically come with FWA perks while underlings toil in cubicles from 8 to 5.
The kind of work you do (and for whom) matters.
Consider a list of industries/jobs that offer either lower or higher flexibility:
- Higher flexibility: education, engineering, tech, finance, and professional services.
- Lower flexibility: food & hospitality, healthcare, transportation/delivery, retail, lower-level service jobs.
You might be the most steadfast boundary-setter since the Treaty of Westphalia. But you are still unlikely to negotiate an FWA if you manage a restaurant or drive a truck for a living.
Quick example: It never escapes me that my trash in Dallas gets picked up every Monday. Rain, sleet, snow, 4th of July—none of it gets in the way of trash pickup. Those guys have to show up every morning. They have little autonomy, and probably even less PTO.
In short, an FWA isn’t always on offer if you’ve walked into certain industries or jobs. Those industries come with lower job satisfaction and less happiness.
Other industries are rosier. They open a broad window of flexibility and autonomy.
For example, I’m confident that higher education is the FWA champion. Here’s why:
As I write, I’m teaching 4 summer sections for extra money between camp drop offs. It’s all online, when I want, with the amount of effort that I choose (generally speaking).
There’s work to be done, don’t get it twisted. But I have ample time for breakfast with the kids, morning chat with wifey, a little doom scrolling, and a high-intensity workout. (I mean I could if I really wanted to.)
Then I work for a couple hours until it’s time for my urban Buddha walk that helps me reach enlightenment—which I still can’t find.
Can anybody beat that?
More qualifiers: Why education matters so much
Let’s continue with the education industry, switching to the demand side.
There’s a rising tide of anti-education sentiment, many believing that college isn’t worth it. The degree juice, they say, simply isn’t worth the debt squeeze. Most will cite loan debt vs income to support their claim.
As an educator I’m clearly biased. But I think these views are, at best, myopic. At worst, those who hold them may unwittingly compromise their future happiness.
Here’s why education still matters:
- Having at least a bachelor’s degree buys you access to upper-level jobs in most industries. This means higher income, improved benefits, and autonomy.
- As we’ve seen, one common fringe benefit is an FWA.
- Proof: 47% of workers with a Bachelor’s (or higher) work from home at least occasionally. This number shrinks to 9% with only a high school diploma.
- More proof: Less educated workers often have lower job satisfaction, more job stress, and less overall wellbeing.
- Degrees → FWA → greater job satisfaction → happier life. This isn’t usually part of the degree value calculation, but it’s real.
Of course, none of this is universal or certain.
Many PhD’s sacrifice sleep in the name of publishing their work. And upper-level jobs can come with added task pressure and longer hours. But the benefits seem to outweigh these costs for most workers.
I, for one, will insist that my kids go to college.
What you can do to snag an FWA
You may already feel like you have a good amount of flexibility at work. If so, I hope you’re feeling the fringe benefits described above.
If you don’t currently have an FWA, there are a few paths to achieving it:
- Peel back your industry’s curtain to see if FWAs are really a thing. If they’re not, you might reconsider your future in that industry—or at least your role.
- If FWAs exist, spot the cultures/companies that offer them and make your way over. Or, seek out the specific jobs/roles that have this benefit. Then seek out professional development or mentoring to get you there.
- If there’s an educational glass ceiling, it might take more school to find flexibility. One of the great things about our society is that it’s never too late to re-educate and re-invent yourself.
- You might already have a job that can offer an FWA. If you do, communicate what you want. More flexible hours, remote work, whatever you value most. If they say no, go full Milton from Office Space and set the place on fire.
Because of their impact on job satisfaction, FWAs are an important tile in the mosaic of happiness. The data is clear.
But we don’t need the data, do we? It’s intuitive.
We know the late nights are aging us quickly. And that the missed time with family and friends can never be recouped. And that working in sweatpants hasn’t gotten less awesome since Covid.
Don’t miss out on this sliver of life (and work) that’s so important to your happiness.