Flexible working

Overview of flexible working

A flexible working arrangement is a variation to the standard full-time working pattern in your department. Flexible working might involve reducing your working hours or just working them to a different pattern.

Examples of flexible working include:

  • part-time working
  • staggered working hours which may include an early or late start or finish, or allowing a long break in the middle of the day
  • term-time only working
  • working from home
  • compressed hours (for example, working a '9-day fortnight' where the full-time hours for 10 working days are worked over 9 longer days)

Employees may request a temporary or a permanent change to their working hours.

Applications for flexible working can be made either informally, by agreement between employee and line manager, or through the formal ‘flexible working scheme’.

Applications are subject to approval by line managers.

Find out more

 

Alternatives to making a flexible working application

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The University offers flexible retirement: a scheme allowing, with University approval, a mixture of retirement and continuity at work.

Find out more about flexible retirement

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Short-term secondment to a different role within the University is sometimes available. Secondments give the opportunity to work in a different type of role for a period of time, whilst retaining the right to return to the previous job.

Find out more about Secondments

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Staff can discuss with their line manager whether the duties and responsibilities of the post could be reviewed in order to reduce the range of tasks, or level of responsibility. In such cases, it would be necessary to draft a new job description and for the appropriate grade of the revised job to be determined, which is likely to involve a reduction in grade and salary.

Find out more about the regrading progress

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There are many opportunities for University employees to apply for a new role offering a different pattern of working. For staff considering whether reduced responsibility or a different type of work would best accommodate their needs for flexibility the University’s Jobs pages advertise dozens of jobs every week some of which are offered for 'internal candidates only'. 

Explore the University’s Jobs website

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