If you’re thinking about flexible working, whether it’s in a new job or your current one, there are a few factors to consider before taking the plunge.
Some of the questions you could ask yourself are:
What matters most to me?
- Having a clear idea of your priorities and responsibilities in life can help you decide which type of flexible working suits you.
- These might include caring for children or other relatives, your physical or mental health, or progressing in your job as quickly as you can.
How would flexible working impact me and others?
- How would a change affect your income?
- Would a change affect your children, partner, or those you share caring responsibilities with?
- What would the impact be on your employer?
Is flexible working a realistic option for the job I want?
- There may be certain roles that are less likely to lend themselves to flexible arrangements, for example, where you need to be always on-site, or there are set working times.
- Would transport be available at the times you need them, for example, if you want to work late into the evening?
Which flexible working arrangements would work best?
- How many working hours per week would suit you and your circumstances?
- How much would you need to earn?
- Will there be opportunities to increase your earnings should you need to?
- What times would best suit you? Can you start early or finish late? Can you work every day or are there days that you can’t work?
- Are there certain times of the year when you can’t work or work would be limited – for example, school holidays?
- How flexible can you be? If your first choice of flexible work arrangements isn’t possible, are there other options that can work for you and your employer? If you can be flexible, it could make all the difference.
- Would working remotely some or all the time help you?
- How far and how often can you commute? How much would the commute cost, and would you be able to afford it?
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