Flexible Working – Anna Mansell

Flexible working is still something new to me. For many years I hoped that I might one day work for people who understood that, however committed to them and my career I was, there were times when my private life was equally important.
Ten years ago, flexible working was a distant dream. Working from home was a euphemism for catching up on daytime TV, and email was still a relatively new concept, used only by techno geeks and wealthy businesses. Now, in 2007, employees around the world can take advantage of both technology and a cultural shift that encourages us to effectively balance both our work and home life.

In 2005 I had a baby. Nothing particularly innovative in that, except that I needed, for lots of reasons, to get back to work as soon as I could. I am a freelancer but for the past three years have worked closely with Dance4 as a member of the team delivering marketing and communications for its annual festival nottdance, and its wider organisational needs.

Dance4 has always been a supportive employer, actively recognising that its employees have a life outside work, and respecting that fact. The team is made up of people at different stages of their lives and everyone is accommodated equally. When I had my son, I hoped that we could come to an agreement that would work for both the organisation and me. We talked it through and the solution was clear and workable for everyone. I work 10.00am to 4.00pm during the day, leave to pick my son up, do the mum thing till his bedtime at 6.45pm, then I pick up where I left off work-wise, at about 7.00pm. My hours are made up, I get no distractions and, because I dont stress about balancing motherhood and a career, and my employers get the very best of my attention.

From time to time things change. The mancub has a tendency to catch all sorts of bugs, infections, viruses and the like, which means that, from time to time, I get a call from his nursery asking me to pick him up. Although it sounds a little harsh, when I am at work it feels awful  obviously my boy comes first but I am committed to my employers too, probably because they are so respectful of my home life. There is never any question of where my priorities should be. Both Rachel the General Manager and Nicky our Director understand that I need to go, or work from home for the day. They trust me to get on with my work when I can, make up the hours, but ultimately deliver in terms of my workload.

Of course there are times when it isnt in the best interests of the organisation for someone to work from home. If this ever happens, I dont feel aggrieved because I know that its circumstantial. Whilst our organisation supports us and our work/life balance, we will support them, making for a very effective workforce.
And daytime TV, doesnt even get a look in!

Anna Mansell is Marketing & Development Manager at Dance4.
t: 0115 941 0773; e: [email protected];
w: http://www.dance4.co.uk