Tell us if this sounds familiar. You hire someone on at your chamber. They work hard and learn the ins and outs of your community, making great connections and providing value to your members. Then they’re either lured away by more opportunity and money or they feel burned out and need to take a break from the industry.
Has that ever happened?
Maybe it’s happened to you. Maybe you’re feeling worn out and unappreciated. You know you could be making more money elsewhere.
You and your staff spend your days championing the needs of your members, encouraging innovation, promoting business growth, and adapting to changing work trends.
But does your chamber reflect those same forward-thinking values?
One of the most powerful shifts happening in the workplace today is the move toward flexible schedules. According to the 2024 Workplace Flexibility Trends Report, 58% of US employees have the option of a flexible work week compared to just 5% in 2019. That’s a big shift. And chambers, regardless of size or geography, are discovering that offering staff more control over their workweek isn’t just good for morale, it’s good for business.
If you think you can’t do it at your chamber, think again. Chambers of all sizes around the country are embracing greater flexibility as an employee perk and morale booster.
Why Flexibility Is a Smart Strategy
Chambers aren’t typically known for sky-high salaries or splashy perks. But what you can offer is meaningful work and a culture that values people. Flexibility is one of the most cost-effective ways to attract and retain talent, reduce burnout, and foster a healthier, more motivated team.
Flexible scheduling sends a strong message: we trust our team, we respect their time, and we believe in results over rigid routines.
“We’re a 400-member chamber with a staff of two,” shared Jodi King, the Executive Director at the DuBois Chamber of Commerce. “From Memorial Day to Labor Day, we work 4-day weeks; however, our office is still covered Monday through Friday. We rotate Fridays and Mondays. It works beautifully.”
This kind of creative scheduling allows small teams to offer flexibility while maintaining business continuity. And for larger chambers, there’s even more room to innovate.
What Flexible Schedules Look Like in the Chamber World
Flexibility doesn’t have to mean chaos or loss of productivity. In fact, chambers across the country are using a wide variety of approaches to make flexibility work for their unique teams including:
- Summer Hours: Several chambers offer reduced hours in the summer when event calendars slow down. “We close at noon on Fridays, Memorial Day through Labor Day,” said Della Schmidt from the Greater Mankato Growth and Greater Burlington Partnership, whose team includes 20 employees. Kristen Duever shared that her chamber offers “Fridays off for July and August” a perk staff look forward to every year.
- Staggered Schedules: Others rotate staff to ensure coverage while still allowing time off. “Our system is Memorial through Labor Day. Only one staffer works on Fridays,” explained Laurette Leagon. It keeps the office open but gives everyone extra time off. One anonymous chamber professional noted, “I know one group that gives you every other Friday off. That way, the place is still staffed, but everybody gets an opportunity to go to their doctor’s appointments and things like that. I think it’s an amazing perk in a world that’s a low-paying situation.”
- Early Closures: Even shaving off a few hours on Fridays can significantly impact staff well-being.“We are 700ish members, but we close at 3 on Fridays,” said Jay Baugh Houston. Krystal Crockett, President/CEO at Bixby Metro Chamber of Commerce shared, “We close at noon on Fridays and have since we came back in 2020. We get our stuff done, and we’ve only had one complaint in five years.”
These examples reflect a consistent theme: Chambers are finding ways to be strategic and flexible, without sacrificing service.
Embracing the Culture Shift
What’s clear from these chamber leaders is that flexible scheduling is more than a nice-to-have. It’s becoming a core part of workplace culture. But like any change, it requires intentional planning, good communication, and a results-focused mindset.
“We are piloting it this summer,” said Janet Knauff. “So far, it’s going well. I think it is a good example to our business members that we are managing our ‘business’ well, by implementing a project management software system and effectively streamlining our operations. We’ve been able to give our employees a better work/life balance and embrace innovative business trends such as the 4-day work week.”
This quote highlights an important point: flexible scheduling isn’t just an internal HR strategy, it’s a leadership opportunity. By showing that chambers can modernize their operations while maintaining professionalism, we set an example for our business members to follow.
Chris Romer from the Vail Valley Partnership goes even further: “We have a results-oriented work environment (ROWE) and don’t track hours/days worked. Many/most of our teams take Friday or at least Friday afternoons off as needed/wanted.”
Romer’s approach reflects a growing trend in performance-based management: When you focus on output over hours, staff feel empowered and more accountable because they’re trusted to manage their time responsibly.
Balancing Flexibility with Member and Community Needs
Flexibility works best when it’s implemented thoughtfully. Chambers still need to serve their members, host events, and be responsive to the community. Some may even feel the pressure to be present on Fridays for weekend visitors. So how do you balance that with time off?
Here are a few tips:
Define Core Hours or Coverage: Ensure someone is always available to answer phones or respond to inquiries during business hours, even if it’s a skeleton crew of volunteers.
Use Rotating Schedules: Like King’s or Leagon’s teams, rotating Fridays off can give everyone a break while keeping the office running.
Plan Around Events: If your chamber has a major event or board meeting, staff can flex their hours earlier in the week or “bank” time off.
Invest in Technology: Digital tools like shared calendars, project management platforms, and cloud storage can help teams stay connected, even when they’re not physically in the office.
Recruiting and Retaining Top Talent
For many chambers, especially smaller ones, recruiting can be a challenge. Offering flexible schedules is a way to stand out in a competitive hiring environment.
Highlight Flexibility in Job Listings: Most candidates care deeply about work/life balance. Make sure they know your chamber values it too. Flex time can make chamber jobs more accessible to professionals with outside responsibilities.
Boost Morale and Loyalty: When employees feel trusted and supported, they stay longer and give more. People can easily make more money and leave for greater compensation. But it’s difficult to give up flexibility.
As one chamber professional put it: “In a world where we can’t always compete on pay, we can compete on how we treat people.”
The business world is changing, and our chamber cultures should evolve with it. Offering flexible schedules is not a step back from professionalism, it’s a step forward into smarter, more sustainable leadership.
Whether it’s closing early on Fridays, rotating days off, or trusting your team with a results-only work model, there’s no one right way to offer flexibility. What matters is that it works for your staff, your members, and your mission.
By embracing thoughtful scheduling, we’re not only building healthier teams, we’re modeling the kind of workplace innovation we advocate for every day.
