How Flextime and Unexpected Time Off Can Transform Your Staff Culture
- Tom Iselin
- Oct 13, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 17, 2025
How Flextime and Unexpected Time Off Can Transform Your Staff Culture
Today, I want to talk about a couple of cultural facets you can use to dramatically improve your staff culture. The first is flextime.
Some people argue that flextime is merely a perk. I disagree. I believe it’s one of the most powerful cultural tools available to nonprofit leaders—and one of the most meaningful ways to reward and retain great staff.
Why Time Off Matters in Nonprofits
One of the most satisfying ways to strengthen staff culture is to reward people with time.
Nonprofit staff typically work longer hours and earn less money than their for-profit counterparts. Offering two weeks of paid vacation and a handful of national holidays is a decent start—but it’s rarely enough to prevent burnout or show genuine appreciation.
If you want to deepen your culture, you need to think beyond standard benefits.
How Flextime Worked at Sun Valley Adaptive Sports
At Sun Valley Adaptive Sports, flextime was a defining element of our culture.
Our staff loved to exercise and spend time outdoors—it was a signature cultural value. As long as there were no meetings or events scheduled, staff could:
Take an extra hour at lunch to hike, bike, run, or exercise
Work through lunch and leave early
Come in late on a “powder day” to ski fresh snow
This flexibility wasn’t abused. It was respected—and returned in the form of loyalty, productivity, and pride.
The Power of Unexpected Time Off
Another powerful way to reinforce a healthy staff culture is by offering unexpected time off.
At SVAS, I regularly granted paid days off when staff:
Achieved major milestones
Sacrificed weekends for special events
Went above and beyond expectations
During the holidays, I often added extra days off to create long weekends. And when staff faced serious personal challenges—such as illness, trauma, or family loss—I offered additional paid time off without hesitation.
These gestures sent a clear message: people mattered more than policies.
The Results of a Generous Culture
By my fourth year at SVAS, full-time staff received an average of seven weeks of paid time off per year. This also included paid time to attend continuing education conferences and training seminars.
Staff earned their time off—but it was also a meaningful and motivating benefit.
They were proud of our culture. They talked about it. And it quickly became a culture other organizations in town envied.
Why Flextime Works
Adding flextime and unexpected time off to your culture:
Reduces burnout
Increases morale
Builds loyalty
Reinforces trust
Validates hard work
Most importantly, it helps create a culture where staff feel valued, respected, and appreciated—not just managed.
Takeaways
If you want to strengthen your staff culture:
Treat time as a reward, not just compensation
Offer flexibility whenever possible
Use unexpected time off to show appreciation
Trust your staff—and they will earn it
Remember that generosity often returns five-fold
Give up a little control and flexibility, and you’ll gain passion, commitment, and performance.
Summary
Flextime and unexpected time off are not luxuries—they are cultural investments.
When you respect your staff’s time and personal lives, you create a workplace where people want to give their best. Try it, and see the results for yourself.
Tom Iselin
“One of America’s Best Board Retreat and Strategic Planning Facilitators”
Additional Resources:
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About the Author
Tom Iselin is recognized as one of America’s leading authorities on high-performance nonprofits. He has built nine sector-leading nonprofits and two software companies, written six books, sits on multiple boards, and has been rated one of America’s Best Board Retreat and Strategic Planning Facilitators. His work on nonprofit strategy, board leadership, and culture has been featured on CNN, Nightline, and in Newsweek.
Tom is the president of First Things First, a firm specializing in board retreats, strategic planning services, fundraising strategy, and executive coaching for nonprofit CEOs.
Board Retreats & Strategic Planning
If you’re looking for a board retreat facilitator or strategic planning facilitator who has been in the trenches and understands real-world nonprofit challenges, Tom can help your board gain clarity, build alignment, and create an actionable plan that improves performance and impact. His sessions propel organizations to the next level of performance and impact . . . and they're fun!
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