Talking flex: Top tips for employees from Working Families

Sometimes the most difficult thing can feel like starting the conversation. Here are some tips on what to consider.

There's no wrong way to ask for flexibility in your role. There's no wrong time to ask. It's all about starting a conversation with the people you report into (your employer). When you're starting your conversation, keep it human. It's likely your conversation will be an exchange of ideas.

Looking for flexibility in an existing role

Think through your current working pattern and what you're looking to put in place. What impact will this new pattern have on the organisation? Think through the concerns your line manager, colleagues and service users may have. How do you think your new pattern could work on a daily basis? You might draw on examples of other people who do a similar job to you and how they have been able to do it flexibly.

There are a number of different ways of working flexibly that you might want to suggest: a job share partner, agreeing an allocation of work with another colleague so that you are the point of contact for each other when the other person is not there.

For example, this might work if you were to work 08.00–16.00 and your colleague worked 09.00–17.00. You could offer to help train a job share partner, and perhaps a job share partner could contact you at home if required to clarify any issues.

If suggesting working from home, then think about the activities of your role and if it is something you want to do. Do you have the necessary home environment and work equipment so you can work effectively from home? Can you cange your weekly work pattern or have part-time cover during holidays?

How will your new work pattern work in a crisis situation? You may want to offer being available by phone to deal with emergencies or urgent requests.

Remember to point out the benefits to the charity: two heads are better than one (job share positives), flexible work helps keep employees happy and retains them, and it doesn't cost the business anything more.

When talking to your line manager, suggest giving your new pattern a try. What looks good on paper, might need some changes and if you agree a trial you'll both be able to make the changes you both need, and you'll give the new pattern the time it needs.

Looking for flexibility in a new role

You've seen a job advertised, and it's a role you want, but there's only one issue: no mention of the flexibility you need.

Right now, there's no legal right for anyone to have flexible working. But there's no harm in asking at any point in the recruitment process. Always start with a conversation and follow all the tips above.

Maybe even focus your job search on recruitment agencies specialising in ethical recruitment.

Source: Working Families

Marcus Wratten

Marcus Wratten is the social media manager at Hestia.

I started working in communications at Hestia, a crisis charity, back in 2017. The storytelling element of charity communications, particularly collecting case studies, piqued my interest. In early 2020, after much internal deliberation, I applied to start a Master’s degree in Journalism.

Flexible working allowed me to take the biggest step in my career so far. It’s benefited me constantly over the last year.

Firstly, my organisation enabled me to reduce my hours from full to part-time with ease. I remember worrying that I was going to lose my job if I asked to change my hours, and would have to take on the added stress of job hunting as I prepared to start my degree. I was so pleased when I was told I could switch to part-time, as it meant I could continue working in a field related to what I was studying. It was a big relief.

I started my degree in September 2020, in the midst of the pandemic. I swiftly learnt that if it weren’t for the fact that I was homeworking, I would not have been able to complete my Master’s degree at all.

My lectures were spread out across the whole week, and I realised that it simply wouldn’t have been possible to work from the office and attend lectures on the other side of London all in the same day. I also realised that I wouldn’t have been able to afford travelling across London, every day, on a part-time salary

Even now, as the world has started to open up, I’ve been afforded the flexibility to work from where I like. There have been days where I’ve spent the morning on my work laptop, and come lunchtime, I’ve switched to my university laptop. This wouldn’t have been possible in a pre-pandemic world.

I can’t imagine how difficult it would have been trying to organise my schedule if I’d needed to be in the office whenever I was working. Removing the barriers of office-based, 9 to 5 working, has enabled me to smoothly start a new chapter in my life.

The nature of my degree has also meant that, on occasion, I’ve had to swap my working days around to take an exam, or take an hour or two out of the working day to log onto an online lecture.

My team have been so supportive, allowing me to make up the hours as and when is suitable for me. Sometimes, I’ll work in the evening if I’ve taken time out of the day, but I actually feel more energised and motivated to do the work I’m doing, because it feels like I’m doing it on my terms. It alleviates the pressure.

Of course, there are downsides to everything. It can be harder to keep up with emails or what needs doing when I swap my days around, as there’s less routine. Sometimes, I feel I need to work more hours than necessary when I’m taking advantage of flexible working. I also know a lot of people don’t like to receive emails outside of traditional working hours, but I never expect a reply until they are working.

All of the downsides are minor in comparison to the astronomical benefit I’ve felt from flexible working. I can see now how the flexibility to work from home or at ‘unconventional’ hours could enable so many more people to go and study, or get a pet, or start a family. In my mind, flexible working is the future of working.

The Road Ahead

Time to flex: Embracing flexible working