As the leads for the Women's and the Parents & Carers Network, we are pleased to announce that GC joined Working Families in August.
Working Families is the UK’s work-life balance charity. Their mission is to remove the barriers that people with caring responsibilities face in the workplace. They give employers the tools they need to support their employees while creating a flexible, high-performing workforce.
We join other organisations including Laing O'Rourke, Marks & Spencer, Careers & Enterprise Company and Superdrug.
As a member, we will be able to access:
- The very latest research on all aspects of workplace agility and flexibility
- Policy updates that affect working families and their employers
- Detailed responses to government policy papers
- Information about legislative changes and how they might impact our organisation
- Best practice case studies about how employers support parents and carers and how they have implemented innovative flexible working
- Fact-sheets and good practice guides for managers on facilitating a smooth transition into parenthood and caring for their employees and how to effectively implement flexible working
- A wide range of templates and model policies that you can adapt for our own organisation
Over the last two years, we have seen the benefits that agile and flexible working have brought to GC colleagues and we hope our membership helps us expand this further.
Below some of your Growth Company colleagues share stories of how agile and flexible working has been a benefit to them.
Lauren Fairley (Partnership & Marketing Officer for National Careers Service):
This year I slightly reduced my hours from 37 to 35 and condensed them down into four days from Monday – Thursday. I’ve found that having an extra day over the weekend has allowed me to invest more time in creative pursuits which has been hugely beneficial for my mental health and has helped me to build back a sense of normality that was lost during lockdown. I also find that I am more focused on my working days as the five-day week doesn’t loom so large, and starting earlier gives me time to action emails at the beginning of the day before any meetings. The pandemic showed us just how short and precious life is, and I feel that work is now one element of my life rather than my whole life, which is how it should be.
Gemma Batchelor, Head of Careers:
I have recently joined The Growth Company as Head of Careers and when considering the next step in my career, finding an organisation that offered flexible working and a culture of supporting families was really important to me. I have worked part-time since becoming a parent to allow me to spend time with my children and also to continue my career, which I love. When my daughter was three, she was diagnosed with a physical disability, which meant lots of additional hospital appointments, physio and meetings with school. Having flexibility from my employer around when I worked my hours became essential. I was lucky that I felt valued for what I achieved during my time at work, not how many hours I was employed or when I worked.
But when thinking about my own progression, there was still a voice in my head that held me back from applying for new roles. Would a new organisation offer as much flexibility? How would I juggle a more senior role with my parenting responsibilities? Would I be overlooked in favour of someone who worked full time?
The Growth Company’s flexible working policy stood out when considering my next step, along with the values of the organisation. In my interview, agile working was discussed and encouraged, and it was clear that this was part of the culture, not just a paper policy. It also was an inclusive approach, not just for people with families but for everyone to manage their wellbeing and work-life balance. I requested an alternative working pattern with a non-working day each fortnight which would be flexible depending on business and personal needs which was agreed and allowed me to take that next step in my career.
Life can still feel like a juggling act balancing a busy workload, family life and time for myself, but knowing I have the autonomy to plan my own diary and travel means it is possible. And the fact that agile working is actively encouraged and role modelled by senior leaders is fantastic. I am really passionate about encouraging others to not feel limited in their career by their personal circumstances and am an advocate of the benefits of flexible working for all.
Russell Thomas (Senior Marketing and Campaigns Manager):
Having recently adopted two children under the age of 5, Agile working has really helped me to get our routine in place and ensure that I spend important time with them and my husband. I am able to balance work with family life, whether that be working from home or in the office – it is a real benefit to working at GC.
We look forward to collaborating with Working Families and using their experience to develop our approach to flexible working further.
Visit the EDI page for more information on the Growth Company's 7 EDI networks, including Women's and Parents & Carers,
Naomi Ilagoswa (Parents & Carers Network)
Alex Howley (Women's Network)