{"id":7389,"date":"2024-02-28T13:47:50","date_gmt":"2024-02-28T13:47:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/careers\/?p=7389"},"modified":"2024-02-29T09:00:54","modified_gmt":"2024-02-29T09:00:54","slug":"flexible-working-and-you-what-employers-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/careers\/?p=7389","title":{"rendered":"Flexible working and you: what employers say"},"content":{"rendered":"

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We all look for jobs that map to our values, our skills and experience, also opportunities to develop and grow in a role. Another question you\u2019ll need to ask yourself when researching careers<\/a>.is how important flexible working is for you.<\/p>\n

To help you prepare and understand the employer perspective, we asked four very different employers what they really think about flexible working.<\/p>\n

Different examples of flexible working<\/strong><\/p>\n

All four employers have policies and practices that accommodate different work environments and styles<\/a>. They recognise how flexible working can be attractive to both employees and employers.<\/p>\n

Tara from Historic England<\/a>, describes how \u201cby being more flexible, we’re able to open up opportunities to a lot more diverse, wider talent pool of people, which in itself brings new perspective, new ideas, new ways of working\u201d<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Sandra from the Environment agency<\/a> explained that almost every member of staff has a flexi time contract. \u201cThere are no core hours anymore, so we can work anytime from 7 in the morning till 7 at night\u201d<\/em>.<\/p>\n

For Kelly at the Caerphilly Youth Offending Service<\/a>, there are lots of positives to working flexibly to suit personal circumstances. \u201cMost of the jobs we do are in the evenings and weekends\u201d<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Nadezhda from Coca-Cola<\/a> describes the flexibility that an international company can offer. The company is \u201cgood at working with and managing remote teams.\u201d<\/em> An example she gave was someone of Indian heritage who was able to work remotely temporarily to \u201cspend some time in India with their family.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The reality check: not all job roles can be done remotely<\/strong><\/p>\n

Flexibility can be a two-way relationship between employee and employer, and there are times when you will need to meet in person. For example, all our employers said meeting during the induction period was key to settling into a role before a flexible work pattern could start.<\/p>\n

Meeting in person can enable difficult or sensitive discussions. Kelly at the Caerphilly Youth Offending Service said meeting other members of the multi-agency team is much easier to do in person, \u201chaving those discussions with a safe office space, there could be eight of us working with one child at one time.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Some jobs just need to be done at a time and place the company needs, so are less flexible. Nadezhda was clear that \u201cAt Coca-Cola, some roles like manufacturing and frontline service workers don’t have such flexibility.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some jobs have sporadic but unplanned needs for a change in work hours. The Environment agency is a category one responder under the Civil Contingencies Act and duty teams need to be on standby 24\/7. Sandra says \u201cwhen a big environmental incident happens, they move into a three-shift pattern around the day\u2026. then overnight ten till six.\u201d<\/p>\n

Match your preferences with the right employer<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ask yourself what kind of working hours you prefer, whether you are more comfortable face-to-face or working remotely:<\/p>\n