Why Flex Time Is a Powerful Cultural Facet for Staff
- Tom Iselin
- Mar 20, 2021
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 12, 2025
This video and blog provide an overview of the cultural facet "flextime" and how a nonprofit can use flextime and unexpected time off to improve staff culture.
Why Flex Time Is a Powerful Cultural Facet for Staff
Today I want to talk about one of my favorite cultural facets for strengthening staff culture—a facet I call flex time.
Some people see flex time as a perk. I see it differently. I see flex time as a culture builder—one of the most effective ways to show trust, appreciation, and respect for staff.
Why Flex Time Matters in the Nonprofit World
Staff at nonprofits routinely work longer hours and earn less than their for-profit counterparts. Offering two weeks of paid vacation and national holidays is a good baseline—but it’s rarely enough.
One of the most meaningful ways to deepen staff culture is to reward people with time, not just words.
Time is valuable.Time restores energy.Time communicates trust.
How Flex Time Worked at Sun Valley Adaptive Sports
When I ran Sun Valley Adaptive Sports, flex time became a defining feature of our staff culture.
Our team loved the outdoors—it was part of our identity. So we built flexibility into the workday whenever possible.
As long as no events or critical meetings were scheduled, staff could:
Take an extra hour to hike, bike, or run
Work through lunch and leave early
Come in late on powder days to ski fresh snow
Flexibility was earned through commitment and performance, and staff respected it because it was grounded in trust.
Unexpected Time Off Builds Loyalty
Another powerful cultural practice was granting unexpected paid time off.
When staff:
Hit major milestones
Worked long weekends
Carried heavy loads during events
…I rewarded them with surprise paid days off.
During the holidays, I often added extra paid days to create long weekends. And when staff faced serious life challenges—illness, trauma, or family loss—we extended additional paid time off without hesitation.
By my fourth year at Adaptive Sports, full-time staff averaged seven weeks of paid time off per year, including continuing education and training opportunities.
They earned it—and they valued it deeply.
The Cultural Impact of Flex Time
Flex time became a defining feature of our staff culture. People felt:
Trusted
Valued
Appreciated
Respected
Our organization developed a reputation as a place people wanted to work. Morale stayed high. Burnout stayed low. Passion stayed strong.
When you give staff flexibility and respect their personal time, it comes back five-fold in commitment, loyalty, and performance.
A Simple Challenge
I challenge you to incorporate flex time into your staff culture. Start small. Be thoughtful. Tie flexibility to responsibility and trust.
Then watch what happens.
Takeaways
Flex time is a cultural strategy, not just a perk.
Nonprofit staff work hard and deserve meaningful recognition.
Flexibility builds trust, morale, and long-term loyalty.
Unexpected time off validates sacrifice and dedication.
Respecting personal time reduces burnout and boosts performance.
Giving time back to staff strengthens passion and commitment.
Summary
Flex time is one of the most effective cultural facets you can use to strengthen staff morale, reduce burnout, and build loyalty. By offering flexibility, unexpected time off, and compassion during difficult moments, nonprofits create environments where people feel valued and trusted. When staff know their time matters, they give more of their energy, creativity, and passion to the mission. A little flexibility goes a long way—and it pays dividends in performance and culture.
Tom Iselin
Rated One of America’s Best Board Retreat
and Strategic Planning Facilitators
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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