Does flexible work schedule affect Bangladeshi retail workers’ job performance and job satisfaction? A case study

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of flexible work schedules (FWS) on employee job performance and job satisfaction within Bangladesh’s retail sector, a critical economic driver contributing 14.3% to GDP and employing 12% of the workforce. Despite the sector’s rapid growth, challenges such as rigid work hours, high stress, and attrition continue, exacerbated by socio-cultural factors like gender roles and religious traditions. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research combines surveys of 250 employees in total across major cities, focusing on demographics, job satisfaction, and performance metrics. Key findings reveal that 80% of respondents reported enhanced job satisfaction under FWS, with 85.5% linking flexibility to increased productivity and 89.1% mentioning reduced work-related stress. Flexible arrangements, including flextime, compressed workweeks, and job-sharing, improved work-life balance for 85.4% of participants, predominantly by balancing personal and professional responsibilities (60%) and reducing commute time (21.8%). However, challenges emerged in teamwork coordination (65.5% approval vs. notable dissent) and managerial resistance embedded in traditional views of authority. Demographically, the workforce is primarily male (78.2%), aged 20–29 (71.7%), and early-career (41.8% with 1–3 years’ experience), emphasizing potential gender imbalances and a youthful, dynamic labor pool. Structural barriers, such as resource constraints and the absence of FWS provisions in the Bangladesh Labour Act (2006), further hinder adoption. It underscores the need for policy changes and cultural shifts to align organizational goals with employee well-being. While cross-sectional data limits causal inferences, the findings emphasize FWS as a transformative tool for reducing turnover and enhancing productivity in Bangladesh’s retail landscape. Future research should employ longitudinal designs and expand to diverse industries and regions to validate sustainability and broader applicability.