The Work EnvironmentThe Work Environment

Changes to the work Changes to the work environmentenvironment

• Over the past 30 – 40 years the way Over the past 30 – 40 years the way that people work has changed.that people work has changed.

• Most people used to work traditional Most people used to work traditional “9-5” hours – 5 days a week“9-5” hours – 5 days a week

• Nowadays there are far more flexible Nowadays there are far more flexible working patterns in place to fit in working patterns in place to fit in with modern lifestyles.with modern lifestyles.

Reasons for changesReasons for changes

• Changes in societyChanges in society

• More women returning to work after More women returning to work after having childrenhaving children

• More people setting up their own More people setting up their own businessbusiness

• More people choosing to work part timeMore people choosing to work part time

• Introduction of IT allows people to work Introduction of IT allows people to work away from the officeaway from the office

Flexible working patternsFlexible working patterns

• Full time – people working around a 37-40 hour Full time – people working around a 37-40 hour week.week.

• Part Time – any job which has less than 37 hours Part Time – any job which has less than 37 hours a week – allows people to fit in other activities a week – allows people to fit in other activities such as family or studyingsuch as family or studying

• Flexitime – employees can choose when they Flexitime – employees can choose when they work as long as they work their contracted hours. work as long as they work their contracted hours. There will be core hours when all employees must There will be core hours when all employees must be at work eg 10 am-12 noon and 2 pm -4 pm. If be at work eg 10 am-12 noon and 2 pm -4 pm. If more than contracted hours worked in a week more than contracted hours worked in a week then staff can build up these hours for a day off then staff can build up these hours for a day off (flexi-day).(flexi-day).

Flexible working patterns Flexible working patterns contcont• Job Share – when 2 people Job Share – when 2 people share oneshare one job – job –

splitting the hours between them. The hours splitting the hours between them. The hours can be split to suit the individuals doing the job. can be split to suit the individuals doing the job. It is important that they keep in touch so that It is important that they keep in touch so that each knows what the other is doing.each knows what the other is doing.

• Home working – employees are able to Home working – employees are able to complete work from home – saves time on complete work from home – saves time on travelling and allows them to fit the job in with travelling and allows them to fit the job in with their lifestyletheir lifestyle

• Teleworking – employees are able to work away Teleworking – employees are able to work away from the office – they can stay in touch via from the office – they can stay in touch via technology eg email, mobile phone, webcamstechnology eg email, mobile phone, webcams

Flexible working patterns Flexible working patterns contcont• Hot desking – if there are many employees working away Hot desking – if there are many employees working away

from the office there is no need to have a desk for each from the office there is no need to have a desk for each person. There will be desks available to book for staff person. There will be desks available to book for staff members (who usually work away) to make use of if members (who usually work away) to make use of if necessary. There will usually be a phone and a PC to necessary. There will usually be a phone and a PC to enable staff to access their work.enable staff to access their work.

• Touchdown areas – similar to hot desking but they do not Touchdown areas – similar to hot desking but they do not need to be booked – employee may just need to pop in to need to be booked – employee may just need to pop in to send an email – it may just be a seating area with wi-fi send an email – it may just be a seating area with wi-fi connection.connection.

• Career breaks – some organisations offer career breaks eg Career breaks – some organisations offer career breaks eg women having time out to have a family. The length of the women having time out to have a family. The length of the break varies from one organisation to another.break varies from one organisation to another.

• Non-paid leave – an employee may be allowed to take a Non-paid leave – an employee may be allowed to take a certain amount of time off but will not receive any pay.certain amount of time off but will not receive any pay.

Benefits of flexible working Benefits of flexible working patterns - employeespatterns - employees

• Happier workforce as they have more Happier workforce as they have more freedom and a degree of choice in when to freedom and a degree of choice in when to workwork

• Improves their work-life balance – enables Improves their work-life balance – enables them to enjoy family life etcthem to enjoy family life etc

• Reduces stress levelsReduces stress levels• People who may not usually be able to People who may not usually be able to

work can do so easily eg people with work can do so easily eg people with disabilities can work from homedisabilities can work from home

• Less travelling for employeesLess travelling for employees

Benefits of flexible working Benefits of flexible working patterns - employerspatterns - employers• Happy work force produces better quality goods Happy work force produces better quality goods

or servicesor services• Employees more likely to stay with a company if Employees more likely to stay with a company if

they are happy – so reduces cost of recruiting and they are happy – so reduces cost of recruiting and training stafftraining staff

• Less absenteeism and staff can make Less absenteeism and staff can make appointments outside working hours due to appointments outside working hours due to flexitimeflexitime

• Less office space is needed – so saves on rent etcLess office space is needed – so saves on rent etc• Can attract best employees to the organisationCan attract best employees to the organisation

Contract of EmploymentContract of Employment

• The Employment Rights Act 1996 requires that each The Employment Rights Act 1996 requires that each employee should be given a contract with the company for employee should be given a contract with the company for more than one month. The contract should include:more than one month. The contract should include:

• The name and address of the employer and employeeThe name and address of the employer and employee• The job title The job title • The start date The start date • Hours of workHours of work• Pay details – the amount and the date of paymentPay details – the amount and the date of payment• Holiday entitlementHoliday entitlement• Sickness benefitsSickness benefits• Pension detailsPension details• Grievance/disciplinary proceduresGrievance/disciplinary procedures• Amount of notice to be given if employee decides to leaveAmount of notice to be given if employee decides to leave

Types of contractTypes of contract

• Temporary – there is no definite end date for the job – may Temporary – there is no definite end date for the job – may be useful for to give an employee a trial period and if they be useful for to give an employee a trial period and if they are any good they may be made permanent. May be useful are any good they may be made permanent. May be useful to use this contract to employ people for only busy times in to use this contract to employ people for only busy times in the company.the company.

• Permanent – has no end date and is a secure job – it will Permanent – has no end date and is a secure job – it will last until the employee decides to leave or until the last until the employee decides to leave or until the organisation makes them redundantorganisation makes them redundant

• Fixed term – has a definite start and finish date – often used Fixed term – has a definite start and finish date – often used for a specific project and until that project is finishedfor a specific project and until that project is finished

• Full time – full time contract in the UK is 37.5 hours Full time – full time contract in the UK is 37.5 hours • Part time is an employee working less than the full time Part time is an employee working less than the full time

37.5 hours37.5 hours