FAQs: What issues might I face when applying for flexible working as a manager?

As a manager you have the same ability to apply for flexible working as other employees. Traditionally, flexible working has been less common at managerial levels but this is beginning to change as more pressure is put on leaders in business and industry to seriously consider the benefits of flexible working. The attitude is very much that, unless there is a business case against it, employers should consider implementing flexible working practices across the organisation or at least granting requests as they come in.

The issue for managers may be that there often seems to be a business case against flexible working. A common concern of employers is how able a manager is to manage a team or resources when they are absent from the office for part of the time. If you are going to apply for flexible working you will need to think carefully about how you can address this concern. Perhaps you have examples of how you have effectively managed your workload or your team when you have been absent for other reasons.

If you can, identify the business advantages for working flexibly, such as increased ability to manage your workload through working from home or through compressed hours. Think about what you might need to change in your own working practices to accommodate flexible work, for example, if you are going to be absent from the office for periods of time it might be necessary to review or revise communication channels to ensure you remain informed. It may also be a good idea to identify case studies or examples of where flexible working has worked in practice in other areas of the organisation or other similar companies.

AGCAS