Flexible Working
Has 9 to 5 had it’s day?
Flexibility can benefit everyone, if you do it right. In a flexible working arrangement, an employee has some say over how, where or when they work. Whether this involves working from home, working part-time, job sharing or having another kind of flexitime arrangement. With such a wide range of technologies, new working methods and communication solutions available to employers today, there is no reason why flexible working can’t be a universally advantageous endeavour. In a Forbes study, remote workers were happier, felt more valued and felt more productive. But it also highlighted the importance of management communication, goals setting and focus to avoid any pitfalls.
The Covid-19 pandemic has seen businesses adopt flexible working practices, like remote working, at an unprecedented rate. Will this culture change continue to be embraced after the pandemic?
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PODCASTS
Let’s talk about flex… flexible working
(30 mins )
Eat, Sleep, Work, Repeat Podcast talks to Annie Auerbach about her way of working flexibly and explains how all of us could be living a life we love. A chat packed with insights and practical tips. Annie is author of the book Flex – challenging the norms of working. Start at 4 mins.
Play
The working week
(27 mins)
Is our working week due for major reform? Will a move to a four day week ever happen? From shorter hours to more flexibility in the workplace, what will the modern world of work be like in ten years time? Evan Davis and guests Kate Cooper, David Stone and Karen Jansen discuss the latest trends.
Play
Three in one charger
Charge your iPhone, Apple watch and headphones all at the same time with this clever Geekara wireless charger on Amazon. Comes in six different colours.
Flex Appeal with Anna Whitehouse
(35 mins)
Everyone in the UK is entitled to ask for flexible working hours – but most of the time that request is denied. Mary and Emily sit down with Flex Appeal founder Anna Whitehouse (aka Mother Pukka) to discover what we can do to change the culture.
Play
VIDEOS
Go Ahead, Tell Your Boss You Are Working From Home
(14 mins)
Working from home has an undeservedly bad reputation, says Stanford economist Nick Bloom. Based on research comparing the productivity of those who are home working v those commuting and sitting in a cubicle 8 hours a day, Bloom says no one should be afraid to tell their boss they are working at home. Here is the evidence you need to convince your supervisor to let you give it a try.
Watch
Flexible working should be the norm for everyone
(17 mins)
Susan Redden Makatoa is an award-winning communications expert. She believes that there is still work to be done in promoting opportunities for women in senior ranks and one way to fix this is to make flexible work practices normal for everyone. If flexible working is the norm for men and women, parents and non-parents, companies will end up with more engaged, satisfied and productive employees.
Watch
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Discover the new Autumn range at Boden. Beautiful new dresses, seasonal stables and knitwear essentials, they have everything to reinvigorate your style. Find our more here.
How to be a Happy Chicken
(11 mins )
Anna Whitehouse and Matt Farquharson explain why more flexible working can save our minds, improve our lives and make the idyllic work-life balance a reality. They are leading a game-changing movement for the way the world works with their #FlexAppeal campaign. successfully breaking the outdated 9-5 mould and encouraging more workers and organisations to ask for and trial flexible working. They are also co-founders of motherpukka.com, the platform for ‘people who happen to be parents’.
Watch
Top 10 Work from Home Productivity Tips
(18 mins)
Work from home or remotely now? There are a ton of challenges you’ll face working from home. How will you remain productive? How will you make sure you don’t overwork yourself? How will you communicate with those around you, like kids, your partner or roommates? Pat Flynn gives his top 10 helpful tips.
Watch
ARTICLES
How do I ask to change my working hours?
+Advice from Working Families about doing your ground work before you make the request, understanding your legal rights and how you should negotiate your request.
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10 Pros and Cons of Flexible Working
+There’s no doubt that the flexible working trend is likely to continue in the years to come. There are many benefits businesses and individual workers can gain from this phenomenon, but it’s equally important to be aware of, and take action to avoid, the possible pitfalls.
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How These 4 Companies Are Embracing Flexible Work, and Why You Should Too
+Work flexibility is one of the biggest talent trends currently. And as the examples in this article prove, these policies don’t just cater to employee demand. Done correctly, they can offer huge benefits to the company too, from increasing productivity to helping attract the best talent. By Samantha McLaren for Linkedin
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Will job sharing support gender equality at work?
+Job shares can help women to stay in employment, increasing the number available for promotion to senior roles. Emma Shepherd for The Guardian
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