Flexible Working – Is it for you?

There are many different forms of flexible working available and many organisations in the UK now allow their employees to work in a more flexible way to accommodate a better work-life balance. Are you one of them? The days of working 9-5, Monday to Friday have gone, with a number of businesses operating term time only hours, compressed hours (full working week condensed down into 3/4 days), flexi time, job sharing and several other options. 

There have been a number of conversations in the last couple of years regarding a shift to a 4 day working week as opposed to the standard 5 days, Monday to Friday.  Many businesses can’t afford to shut down mid-week so implement other forms of flexible working instead. It allows them to continue to work without having a set period of time with no employees and sees business benefits such as increases to employee retention and engagement.

Flexible working is now a statutory right for all employees with over 26 weeks service. This means that any one at any point can formally request to change something about their working pattern or hours. This doesn’t mean the employer has to agree to it, but there is a process behind the request that has to be carefully thought through before responding. It would be advisable to have a conversation with the individual about the request in more detail before formally accepting or rejecting the request to ensure you as the employer understand all aspects.

Not only does flexible working improve retention and engagement but it can also help with recruiting new staff. An employer who considers flexible working arrangements is one that is seen much more favourably than another who doesn’t. Having a flexible working arrangement can sometimes be valued more than the salary someone is paid and work-life balance in this day and age is key.

For further information on how this works in practice and guidance on what to do with a request, just get in touch using the “Get in touch” tab.