>Much more difficult for collaboration especially for small questions
>Bad workers exploring nice policies
Pros-
>I can sleep/think about code without being paid. Making my solutions lower cost and higher quality
>Happier employees
>Potentially less micro management needed
As for people exploiting it, you should measure relative performance and not but time
One of my first startups I worked had a noon-4pm core hours. You had to be in by noon, and should stay until 4pm, the rest was flexible. I thought it worked really well for both early risers and late owls.
This is also easier said than done. How do you measure programmer performance? LOC is obviously not a reasonable metric. Closed tickets isn't either. It takes an experienced manager who understands code to understand what work is actually being done, and managers like that are rare and valuable.
- the company restaurant closes at the normal time (or all good stuff is taken)
- you still get that condescending look from early-birds
In contrast, early-birds act superior while you are there.
I definitely never got any bonus points for being at work before my boss.