Nikki Slowey calls on everyone to go home on time at least once during National Work Life Week

“It’s so unfair that these mums get to work part time and leave work on time when I need to work late.”

OK this comment was made to me circa 1998, but how much have attitudes changed?

There is certainly much more flexible working going on and not just for mums. And it’s pleasing to see legislation widening the net and giving all employees the right to ask to work flexibility.

Flexibility is on the increase as switched-on employers realise it is actually good for business as well as good for employee wellbeing. We know it increases employee motivation and engagement and leads to increased productivity. We just need more momentum, for more employers to be brave and think creatively about how to use flexibility as a tool to recruit and retain great talent.

The more we normalise flexibility and the more working patterns work with the grain of our lives, the better we will fair

Nikki Slowey

Unfortunately, as we enter National Work Life Week 2015 the picture is gloomy with many of us dissatisfied with our work-life balance. Work is impinging on family time, time with friends, and is stopping us just doing stuff – stuff that isn’t work! This is causing tension in families and affecting health. Alongside workplace stress caused by long working hours and increasing workloads, people have less time to cook healthy meals and exercise. When my work balance shifts in the wrong direction I eat poorly, spending more money to do so, while exercise goes out the window.

Back to that 1998 comment. I work for a partnership that is working hard to increase family friendly working in Scotland. I believe that the more we normalise flexibility and the more working patterns work with the grain of our lives, the better we will fair when it comes to achieving a healthy balance between home life and work.

Plenty of parents, carers and grandparents either have, or want, greater flexibility at work in order to balance their caring responsibility. Yet I also hear of folk that volunteer, train for sporting events or study and need some flexibility in order to do so. Whatever the reason for wanting greater flexibility, it will only work if the culture is right. Organisations that have truly embedded flexibility are those that understand there is more than just policy and practice to consider, there is also a possible culture change. And when you get this right flexibility becomes business as usual.

I sometimes need to just get out the door to get home to my three children, and it is great that I have found a workplace culture that is supportive of this. But everyone should feel comfortable enough to be able to leave work on time without fear of it some-how looking bad.

Research by Family Friendly Working Scotlandfound that only 28% of people go home on time every day. 23 September is National Go Home on Time Day, challenging our long hours working culture – so please make a pledge to go home on time on 23 September. Tweet @ffworkscot using #gohomeontimeday.

Nikki Slowey is programme coordinator for Family Friendly Working Scoltand. She has written this blog in honour of National Work Life Week, which takes place from 21-25 September 2015.

Follow Nikki on Twitter @nikkislowey73