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More professions are embracing the idea of family-friendly working practices, making it much
easier for employees to have a life outside of work and for parents returning to their jobs
after a period of parental leave. Of course, flexible working isn't just for parents - options are
available for anyone wanting their life to include more than just work.
Banking and finance companies were
among those who first embraced flexible working policies. As a result, they have increasingly
looked at ways to retain valued staff or encourage parents to return to the workforce after
having children, by allowing them to tailor their working
hours and roles.
The chronic shortages of nursing staff
and teachers have helped to establish excellent
return-to-work training programmes in those sectors. Often, courses will be subsidised by
prospective employers, while flexible working hours are standard for nurses. Meanwhile,
in schools, a growing number of teachers are working on a job-share or part-time basis.
Secretarial roles can often
be suitable for those seeking flexibility, with companies
offering career breaks, home working and flexible hours for a variety of positions,
particularly at more senior levels.
Human resources is a field in which workers are
very aware of their rights and the options available to them. An increasing demand for interim
managers in the field is also driving more companies and departments to support work:life
balance in this field.
A large number of retailers offer flexible
hours, term-time working and other family friendly policies.
Take a look at
www.employersforwork-lifebalance.org.uk
for case studies of flexible practices and companies that actively implement work:life balance policies.
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