Balancing Flexibility and Service: The Impact of Flexible Work Arrangements in the Philippine Public Secto

Author : Krizzy Von Flores, Rhea L. Gumasing

Abstract :The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of flexible work arrangements (FWAs) in both public and private institutions, highlighting their importance in maintaining service delivery, employee morale, and organizational resilience. This study examines the effects of FWAs—such as telecommuting, flex time, and compressed workweeks—on employee motivation, satisfaction, performance, absenteeism, and turnover within the Department of Trade and Industry – Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (DTI-CIAP). Utilizing a structured online survey with 74 regular employees across five departments, the study employed Chi-square analysis to determine relationships between FWAs and key work-related outcomes, supplemented by descriptive analysis to identify challenges in implementation. Findings indicate that FWAs positively influence the five targeted outcomes, with significant demographic insights: older employees benefitted due to their technical expertise and institutional knowledge, while female employees showed greater preference for FWAs given their dual responsibilities at work and home. However, operational requirements demanding physical presence, access to resources, and direct client interactions created barriers to full implementation. Communication gaps with colleagues, supervisors, HR, and union representatives also emerged as significant challenges. Despite these limitations, the results affirm the value of continuing hybrid work arrangements in DTI-CIAP, provided that challenges are mitigated through tailored job role designs, improved communication channels, digitalization, specialized training, and leadership commitment. Such measures can enhance employee well-being, retention, and organizational efficiency. The study recommends expanding future research to other government agencies, integrating financial and performance metrics, and exploring technology-driven solutions to institutionalize FWAs as sustainable workforce strategies in the Philippine public sector

Keywords :Flexible work arrangement, public service, work related outcomes.

Conference Name :International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social and Cultural Sciences (ICISCS-25)

Conference Place Seoul, South Korea

Conference Date 6th Nov 2025