Flexible working

We want all our staff to strike a balance between work and their life outside work. We can offer a range of flexible working options which are designed to suit different circumstances and priorities.

Types of flexible working

We review requests for flexible working where possible during your recruitment process. Make the request to your recruitment manager. If you do not request flexible working as part of the recruitment process, you can still apply for it once you have completed 26 weeks’ service.

Options include:

Flexi-time
You arrange your working patterns around core hours so your times of work complement those of other team members.

Part-time working
You work less than full-time hours over five days, or on agreed ‘fixed’ days of the week.

Temporarily reduced working hours
This gives you time to deal with special circumstances, such as a family or personal emergency or to do a training course.

Job share
You share one role with one or more other employees.

Annual hours
Your hours are spread unevenly throughout the year, with fewer hours worked at certain times, such as during school holidays.

Compressed hours
This complete your working hours in fewer but longer working days.

Staggered working hours
You agree a regular weekly working pattern within specified arrival and departure times. Your hours can be staggered temporarily or permanently, and this can apply throughout the week or just on one or two days of the week. Staggered working hours differ from flexi-time, where your arrival and departure time can vary, as long as core hours are worked.

Other options for temporary flexible working

Other types of flexible working we offer to help with new or unexpected circumstances include:

Phased return to work
You gradually build up the number of hours and days you work after extended absence such as maternity leave or prolonged illness.

Career breaks
You can take a period of time off work unpaid for further education, travel or family care.

Special/parental leave
This enables you to take extra time off for family, personal or domestic needs and includes compassionate and carer leave, adoption and foster leave, and paternity leave.

Flexible retirement
You can gradually ease yourself into retirement rather than making the usual abrupt transition from being employed to retired.