Last year a new flexible working group, was launched by membership bodies NCVO and ACEVO with support from Starfish Search, an executive search firm to look at the issue of flexible working in the charity sector
The report – ‘Time to Flex’ – is based on research and interviews carried by the working group
The report recommends that VCSE organisations consider six ways forward.
- Backed by ACEVO and NCVO, the voluntary sector to champion a default position of ‘yes to flex’ – where employers proactively consider how flexibility is possible in the job design for all roles, for everyone.
- Flexibility to be advertised for all roles – so employers openly lead the conversation about how flexibility can work, and the focus isn’t on the candidate to request it.
- Organisations and individuals to openly share their stories of how flexibility is working – so that best practice, learning and inspiration are easily available in the sector, confidence is built, and stigma is reduced.
- Organisations to embrace a position of trust – where individuals are more empowered to manage their time based on outcomes and impact, rather than when and where they work.
- Organisations to have the courage to experiment, make mistakes, adjust, learn and improve, and be honest about what is and isn’t working while keeping a focus on individual needs.
- Flexibility to become a central pillar of equity, diversity and inclusion, and wellbeing strategies.
The report publication can be accessed here.