To support the report we compiled a group of case studies featuring small and big employers as well as employees with different working needs. Select a case study below to see how they are already working better.
This is the story of Debbie Brian, who lives in South London and works for Islington Council. She cares for her elderly father – flexible working allows her to work the shifts that suit her for caring.
Gina Wheeler works in a registry office and cares for her disabled daughter Justine. Flexi-time at her work allows her to do this and is crucial for both their lives.
Nicola and Ian Jacklin and their 2 children live in Walthamstow. They work split days to make sure they can cover childcare between them.
Monica is a member of the Governance Board and a Litigation Partner who works on a flexible basis successfully combining family and her professional career. Monica works the equivalent of a 9 day fortnight but takes the accrued time in chunks in school holidays. Monica was recently named as one of The Lawyer magazine's 'Hot 100' lawyers for 2007.
Alan Smart is the manager of the National Grid Control Centre in Wokingham. He is very enthusiastic about the importance of flexible working. We talk to 2 dads - Alex Carter and Stephen Curtis who combine working at National Grid with being active in bringing up their children.
Syd Nadim is the chief executive of Clock digital media, a small digital agency employing 32 people, most of them men. The Hertfordshire-based firm makes flexible working, and other work-life balance benefits, available to its employees, allowing them to design work around their lives, interests, needs and desires.