HP: First US Company with Flex Time

Hewlett-Packard Company was the first American company to implement flex time in the United States, having observed the benefits of the program at the company’s plant in Böblingen, West Germany, since 1967. Under flex time, employees could arrive early or late without repercussion as long as they put in a full day and were there during the core time window for productivity (9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.). Not only did this make employees’ lives easier and their days less stressful, it helped them schedule time for community involvement, one of HP’s core corporate objectives. The move cost the company little and did much to boost morale and inspire employee loyalty, and its success inspired imitators throughout the United States.