Job role: Digital Learning Manager, IT, Strathclyde Business School.
Finding out about the opportunity for flexible working or agile working
An HR Adviser informed Ainsley, together with other family-friendly policies, during a meeting about her forthcoming arrangements for Maternity Leave.
I had an initial informal chat with my line manager, to see whether it was possible, and then a formal request was submitted to HR resulting in a change to my contract…My department was very supportive, and my arrangements were put in place before I went on Maternity Leave so my return to work went very smoothly.
Reason for making the request
Ainsley requested flexible working to allow her and her husband to balance being parents with working full-time. This is important as Ainsley’s husband is a
firefighter with rigidly set shift patterns, and who can finish work later than expected.
Hours of work
Ainsley’s formal request was to continue to work full-time (9 to 5, Monday to Friday), but work from home two days each week, on flexible days which could be moved to meet her husband’s shift work pattern. If staff needed to meet Ainsley during days on which she was working from home, she could arrange online meetings or if it had to be in person, they would be scheduled from midmorning to mid-afternoon to ensure she could attend. Ainsley’s flexible working pattern changed once beginning a secondment when she moved to working compressed hours over four days - with three days on campus, one day working from home and one day off work each week.
With enough notice, both her working from home day and day off work are flexible. When Ainsley was promoted to her current position, following discussions with the interview panel, she was able to maintain her current flexible working pattern.
Benefits of flexible working to Ainsley
Ainsley said that flexible working provides stability, whilst allowing her to continue to work full-time. This means she can maintain her career progression, spend time with her kids when not working, and balance parenting and financial responsibilities with her husband. It also removes the stress associated with her husband’s work patterns.
Benefits of flexible working to the University
Ainsley is more reliable and focused when at work, allowing her to perform well without the stress of juggling work and childcare and avoiding the need for any last-minute apologies, cancellations, or requests. Ainsley believes that, because work is flexible with her, she can be more flexible in return to support business needs.
Advice to staff who may be considering flexible or agile working
Ainsley refers to the fact that agile working provides an informal and short-term arrangement, without a change to your contract, whereas flexible working is a long-term and permanent change to your contract. As such, it is important to have a clear understanding of which one best meets your needs.
After identifying and balancing what would work for staff and what would work for the business, Ainsley recommends that staff have a conversation with their manager in which they clearly explain why they are making the request and what the positive impacts would be for them, their job, and their department. Ainsley emphasises the importance of being open and building in flexibility on both sides and explained that HR is there to provide support.
Final thoughts
For Ainsley, it has been a very positive experience. Ainsley believes that flexible and agile working appears to be increasingly more common at the University. For example, some of her colleagues have informal agile working arrangements where they work compressed hours and benefit from having a day off.
