Flexible work plans and employee performance in the mobile telecommunications sector in Uganda

Abstract

The study examined the relationship between flexible work schedules and employee performance in the mobile telecommunications sector in Uganda taking MTN and AFRICELL as case studies. The research specifically explored the effect of flextime, job sharing, part-timing on employee work performance. The objectives of the study stated: Examined the influence of flexible work plans on employee performance in MTN and AFRICELL; Assessed the influence of job sharing on employee performance in MTN and AFRICELL; Explored how part-timing influenced employee performance in MTN and AFRICELL; The findings have revealed that mobile telephone companies implement flexible work plans to a small extent. They do have formal policies on flexible working. Companies adopt some few aspects of flexible working just to motivate their employees to increase work performance. They allow employees to leave work early to take care of urgent personal obligations and place emphasis on employees meeting work productivity standards instead of maintaining a traditional work schedule. Findings also revealed that organisations did not have mechanisms for supervising it. On the basis of the findings, it was recommended that Management of MTN and AFRICELL institute flextime on trial for about six months to evaluate their effect on employee performance. This will enable them to accurately appreciate their importance. The Ministry of Labor should write policies on flexible working. Also employees should be involved when packaging the flexible work schedules so as to promote ownership of such plans by the concerned workers as well.