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Case Study: Flexible Working - Britannia Building Society
Launched in 2004, Mutual Preferences is a framework of flexible working arrangements to help staff achieve a better work-life balance. The scheme provides a range of options such as job sharing, part-time work, flexible hours, compressed working weeks, annualised hours, home working, family leave, short term leave and employment breaks. The scheme is open to everyone, not just parents, and the company considers all applications irrespective of the reason for the request.
The scheme is supported by an innovative booklet featuring case studies of staff who have improved their work/life balance.
34% of Britannia staff work part-time or under flexible arrangements In addition, around 600 people are working annualised hours. Absenteeism has fallen from 3.54% to 2.35% since the launch of the scheme. Turnover has fallen from 19.26% to 12.08% in the same period.
In the November 2006 employee survey, 87% were satisfied that they could balance their work and home life, and 91% were satisfied or very satisfied with the company’s work/life balance policies, a significant increase since the programme was introduced.
Britannia is now exploring ways to measure the impact of the scheme, including the less formal flexibility in parts of the business.
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