Flexible working is a hot topic right now. Everyone is talking about it, and there are so many benefits of doing it, both for employers, and employees. It has been found that 70% of British employees working in an office are more productive when not actually working in the office. Furthermore, 38% said that they were more creative when not at their desks, and finally 90% confirmed that they didn’t feel that working flexibly impacted their ability to work well and collaborate with their teams (The Guardian). But even with all of these benefits, there are still so many individuals (namely mothers) not being able to work flexibly.
It seems I am one of the lucky ones as my employer has allowed me to work 3 days a week. When I started thinking about my return from maternity leave last year, I was quite sceptical about how it would all work. Applying to work flexibly is one thing, but actually doing it (successfully), is a whole different ball game. When I returned to work, I initially set out to do 4 days a week. However, I soon realised that it was too much for me. My work life balance was non existent, and I missed my daughter too much. Plus the nursery run 4 days a week was hideous – I have to go quite far out of my way (the joys of finding a good nursery!). So, after coming close to resigning only a few weeks into returning, I was offered the chance to trial 3 days a week, and I jumped at it. That was almost a year ago (where has the time gone?) and so far, it’s still working well for everyone.
Because of my role in HR, I have received and reviewed literally hundreds of flexible working applications over the years. Some good, some not so good, many successful, and many (unfortunately) unsuccessful. So I thought I would share some tips, both on how to apply to work flexibly, and how to make it a success once you’ve started it. This is by no means an exhaustive list, just a few tips that i’ve found help when looking through and considering applications with managers, and as a mother who works flexibly.
Lisa
xoxo
Applying for flexible working
1: Get your application in early: Usually your employer will ask you to let them know if you are returning from maternity leave around 8 weeks before you are due back. However, flexible working discussions can take some time, especially if you have a manager that has never dealt with one before. Do your research early on your company policy/procedure so that you are familiar with it in advance of any applications and meetings.
2: Be realistic: We all want to work 2 days a week (well maybe not all of us – but wouldn’t it be nice?!), but it is important to manage your expectations about what actually works for you and your company/team. Be honest about what you can do flexibly, i.e. can you really work from home if you’ve got no childcare in place?
3: Be prepared: For your flexible working meeting with your line manager and HR. You will be asked questions on how you will make it work, what childcare you have in place, whether you can come in ad-hoc, etc. Ensure you have thought carefully about the practicalities. This is also your opportunity to ask them lots of questions about what support they can offer you.
4: Impact: When writing your application/ or going to a flexible working meeting with your manager and HR, make sure you have thought about the impact of what you are asking for on your team and clients (if applicable). This is often the first thing that managers think about and want to ensure is not disrupted. If you’re asking for a day working from home, explain how this will work. If you’re asking for a 4 day week – think about who will cover that extra days work in your team.
5: Get networking: Is there anyone else working flexibly, either in your team or across the company? If so, talk to them and find out what works and what doesn’t. If you have a parents network, go and get some support from other mothers and fathers, share your experiences. There will be lots of people out there in similar situations, and talking through things can make the world of difference.
Making flexible working work
1: Be flexible: The key is in the word. Some days you might need to go into the office instead of working from home and vice versa. Thats ok. It’s all about give and take. There will be many times, (and I am talking from experience as a mother) where you will need to leave early or not work at all due to family.
2: Technology: Make sure you have the right technology from the offset. It’s all good and well saying you’re going to work from home, or check emails on your iPhone and then you realise your laptop isn’t compatible or you cant download certain files etc. Easily done. I have experienced first hand several technology issues – mainly through trial and error, so my advice is to get this up and running before you actually need it.
3: Know your limits: It’s easy to say yes to everyone and everything but if you’re working less hours it will be impossible to perform exactly as you were when you were full time. Make sure you set clear goals and objectives for what you can achieve in the timeframes that you are working, and make sure everyone knows the hours that you work. Don’t put meetings in at 4pm if you need to leave at 4.30pm because you will never be out of there on time – trust me, i’ve done it.
4: Routine: It’s probably the most overused word during those first few months of motherhood, but actually it is key in many aspects of life. Without even realising it, most of us end up in some sort of routine, even the most disorganised people, and i’ve found that it has been key to making my working life as a mother a success. A simple routine and planning ahead on your week will save you so much hassle later down the line. Even if it’s just organising with your partner who is doing the nursery drop off and pick ups on certain days, or who is cooking dinner on which evenings. It is difficult to do anything spontaneous with children so this makes a huge difference.
5: Ask for help: There will be many situations when things just don’t work out. You have a bad week, your workload is out of control, you have a sick child (the list goes on). Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Whether it is from your manager or colleagues to reduce your workload, or grandparents to look after your child, don’t try to do it all because you will only end up running yourself into the ground. It is important not to be too hard on yourself, especially at the start.
Here are a few links to some useful websites where you can find more information on flexible working and different parent networks.
Cityparents – great for mums and dads looking for general guidance. They offer various seminars on different parenting topics. www.cityparents.co.uk
Executive shift – supports executives looking to work flexibly. www.executiveshift.org.uk
Mother Pukka – Anna’s website is amazing for all things parenting and flexible working – check out her ‘Flex Appeal’ campaign. www.motherpukka.co.uk
ACAS – for general HR advice. www.acas.org.uk
