flexible working

We all know that if we set off from home earlier in the morning we would miss out the majority of traffic, similarly if we left a little later. But then we’d be too early or late for work, and the boss might not like it!

But do workplaces always have to be inflexible? A lot of employers are now seeing the benefits of flexible working, for themselves and their employees. Flexible working practices have been introduced to help people balance their lives better, and reduce the pressure on the region’s roads.

If businesses took small steps such as allowing us to come in earlier or leave later, then the stress of trying to get to work ‘on time’ would be reduced, leaving us all perkier for the day ahead!  Flexible working can also make an employer more attractive to employees.

Flexible working contributes to a better overall work-life balance. It gives you the opportunity to leave earlier if you need to pick up the kids, prepare for a special birthday or just have an early pint after work.

Flexible working can take various forms, both formal and informal:

• Some employers simply allow employees to work completely flexibly, as long as they get their jobs done, working whenever and wherever they want. This sort of employer is not very common – unless you are quite senior, or are your own employer of course!
• Other employers allow formal working from home on one or more days per week, often with an Internet connection in to their computer system at work. Usually the employee has to come in to the office at least one day per week.
• More formal schemes can include ‘flexi time’ systems. In these, the employee uses a simple paper-based system, or an electronic ‘swipe card’, to log how many hours they work. They can spread their agreed hours over a set period, and if they work a few extra hours one week, they can take them off in another week.
  Some employers allow employees to use a permanent ‘5 over 4’ or ‘10 over 9’ working system. In the former, employees work their normal 5-day week over 4 days, such as 8am to 6pm, and then have a day off every week… nice! The latter system is similar, but employees get a day off every fortnight instead.
• Other flexible working options include job-sharing and ‘annualised hours’; in the latter system your working hours are set for a full year and you can be flexible about when you actually work them.
• Allowing flexible working locations is also an option for employers of today. If you were able to work a number of days from home, or a more strategically placed ‘hot desk’ in a suitable location, this again would improve your life and help to release the pressure on the road network.

Find out the latest information on your legal right to request flexible working, from this link.

Work Wise UK is a not-for-profit initiative which aims to make the UK one of the most progressive economies in the world by encouraging the widespread adoption of smarter working practices.

The Work Wise North East branch has an active campaign to spread flexible-working best practice amongst employers. Contact sarah.stewart@workwisenortheast.org for more details.