on a flexible basis

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "on a flexible basis" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to arrangements or schedules that allow for adaptability or variation. Example: "The employee works on a flexible basis to accommodate personal commitments." Alternative expressions include "flexibly" and "on a flexible schedule."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

First, we're often told that workers are happier if hired on a flexible basis, be it as contractors or self-employed.

The Guardian

The remaining 700 large stores will retain their counters or operate them on a "flexible" basis, i.e. with reduced opening hours.

The Guardian - Business

She called for legislation that would force companies to advertise all jobs on a flexible basis unless there was a business reason for them not to be.

The Guardian

The programme also aims to create a more inclusive local labour market with councils supporting local employers to offer quality jobs on a flexible basis when they are advertised.

The Guardian

Her solution was to take a more strategic approach, promoting her specialist skills - research and foreign languages (she speaks Arabic) and targeting startups, consultancies and small-business owners, who needed those skills on a flexible basis.

The Guardian

Many of the students I interviewed while researching the Higher Education Commission's report on postgraduate study in the summer of 2012 spoke of the difficulty encountered in trying to find institutions offering the course they wanted on a flexible basis.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

In light of their widespread following and ongoing reporting requirements, offering reform created an automatic "shelf" registration statement for use by WKSIs that allowed them to register securities on a more flexible basis, without requiring a waiting period.

Harvard University

Arguably, therefore, a requirement for a minimum level experience for remuneration committee chairs merely fleshes out a concept that is already applied (on a more flexible basis) by Code-compliant companies.

Columbia University

Wonolo employees sign up for the platform, and the companies that partner with the startup have an opportunity to grab the necessary workers they need on a more flexible basis.

TechCrunch

He adds that allowing lawyers to work flexibly has enabled the firm to reconnect with former employees who are still interested in working for them, but on a more flexible basis.

The Guardian

The pair will be there on a "very flexible" basis, according to Jones – there has been no formal RFU approach and the pair will not even be paid for their time.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In professional writing, this phrase is particularly useful for clarifying that an arrangement is subject to change without appearing unprofessional.

Common error

Avoid using this phrase alongside other words that mean the same thing, such as "flexible schedule on a flexible basis", as it creates a tautology. Also, ensure you use the correct preposition "on" rather than "in" or "at".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on a flexible basis" functions as an adverbial prepositional phrase. It modifies the verb in a sentence to specify the conditions or manner of an action. In many examples provided by Ludwig, such as those from The Guardian or Forbes, it typically follows verbs related to employment or service delivery.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Science

7%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "on a flexible basis" is a robust and widely accepted idiomatic expression in the English language. Based on Ludwig data, it is most prevalent in professional contexts—specifically within recruitment, business operations and academic program descriptions. It serves as a more formal alternative to the adverb "flexibly". Analysis from Ludwig AI shows that it is consistently used by top-tier publications to describe modern working and learning environments. Writers should feel confident using it in any formal or neutral context to denote adaptability. Its correct grammatical usage involves the preposition "on", and it functions best when clarifying the non-fixed nature of an agreement or process.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

flexibly

More concise adverbial form of the phrase.

on a flexible schedule

Focuses specifically on time management and working hours.

with flexibility

Uses a different prepositional structure to imply adaptability.

on an ad-hoc basis

Implies the arrangement is formed as needed for specific purposes.

on a non-fixed basis

Formal way to emphasize that terms are not set in stone.

on a variable basis

Suggests that conditions change frequently rather than just being adaptable.

under flexible arrangements

Refers to the broader structural agreement rather than the action.

at one's discretion

Shifts the focus to the individual's power to choose when to act.

as and when required

Focuses on demand-driven activity rather than scheduled flexibility.

on an adaptable basis

Suggests a reactive change to different circumstances.

FAQs

How do I use "on a flexible basis" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe how a task or job is performed, for example: "The consultant was hired <a href="/s/on+a+flexible+basis" target="_blank" rel="alternative">on a flexible basis to help with the transition."

What is the difference between "flexibly" and "on a flexible basis"?

While both mean the same thing, <a href="/s/flexibly" target="_blank" rel="alternative">flexibly is a concise adverb, whereas "on a flexible basis" is often preferred in formal contracts or business reports to sound more definitive and structured.

Can I say "on a flexible schedule" instead?

Yes, if you are referring specifically to time. Use <a href="/s/on+a+flexible+schedule" target="_blank" rel="alternative">on a flexible schedule if the variability concerns hours, but use the original phrase if the flexibility covers broader terms like duties or locations.

Is "on a flexible basis" formal enough for a CV?

Absolutely. It is a professional way to indicate that you are open to different working hours or that a previous role was not a standard full-time position. You might also consider <a href="/s/available+for+flexible+work" target="_blank" rel="alternative">available for flexible work.