English Nature
Background
English Nature is a strong, values-driven organisation with a culture supportive of work-life balance. The main issues were the high workload for most of the staff, the need to attract good people, managers concerns about managing a flexible workforce and pressure on space and office accommodation.
English Nature already offered a range of flexible working options but these were not consistently applied or managed. The aim of the project was to understand good practice, assess the needs of staff and managers and to improve communications.
Key Initiatives
To address these issues, Swiftwork established focus groups to gather information and conducted a staff survey to identify the work-life balance gaps. Following these, a number of flexible working pilots were set up to explore different ways of working. Swiftwork provided training and support to the managers who are key to the project's success. English Nature employs almost 900 staff in offices across the country. The programme was communicated throughout the organisation by presentations to team managers, the Executive Committee, through the intranet and by press releases.
Key Outcomes
The initial diagnostic process resulted in lots of positive feedback but also demonstrated the strength of feeling about workload management and provided an opportunity to deal with managers' concerns. The pilots were very well received by staff and met all their planned objectives. Managers believe the new working patterns will contribute to improved business performance. The high level support provided by the management has resulted in good practice cascading both ways.
Overall Impressions
A comment from the Human Resources Service Team (HRST): "This project was invaluable in facilitating an in-depth review of the current situation across English Nature. Whilst we recognised the wide range of flexibilities offered, HRST was concerned about variations in take up of these in Area Teams, perhaps through inconsistent management awareness."
"The survey data supported these concerns and also raised workload problems as a factor affecting take-up of options. Working with an experienced consultant to design an organisation framework, the parameters for work-life balance management and of management discretion, has enhanced take-up across all our offices and improved senior management appreciation of staff concerns."