BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

FLEXIBILITY OF WHAT AND FOR WHOM?

Author: Mohammad Jasim Uddin

DOI Link: https://www.doi.org/10.56888/BIISSj2010v31n2a1

ABSTRACT

Flexibility is a theoretical concept that can stand for a range of things.1Debate on flexibility has been gaining increasing attention over the years for employers and employees. Different literature demonstratethat practice of flexibility offers employers a chance to vary workers and working hours according to their needs, and provides employees with secure jobs, higher wages, fixed working hour and better working condition. Other studies that describe flexibility as a function of benefits neither for employers nor employees are least documented. Conversely, increasing evidence indicate that flexibility offers diverse opportunities for employers but for employeesoffersbecome less. This is also evidenced from variousliteraturesignifying that introduction of flexibility may not essentially have significant outcomes for workers’ benefits, particularly when innovations are experienced and executed by employers’ unilateral decision without considering workers’ collective voices. The transition deteriorates job quality and security for workers and increases inequalities between demands of employers and employees. Such debate is alsoexperienced in the firms inclined to achieve flexibility through transferring Japanese management practices (JMPs). Taking the ambiguityinto consideration, this paper attempts to explore: What does flexibility mean to employers and employees? What indicators may best capture flexibility for employers and employees? What factors may act to promote a win-win situation on flexibility for both employers and employees?