Home / Resources / Ask the Expert : How can we make flexible working succeed at senior level?

Ask the Expert : How can we make flexible working succeed at senior level?

Timewise strapline
This article’s answer has been contributed by Timewise who educate, train and help organisations to develop their flexible working and flexible hiring strategies in line with their wider business goals and then showcase these positive actions in their Hire Me My Way campaign.

Question

“I’m getting more and more employees coming in to talk to me about flexible working and whether it’s possible to progress in our company without working full time. Do you have any advice on making flexible working work at a senior level?”

Answer

It’s no surprise that you’re getting increasing numbers of requests for flexible working; and it’s no longer just about childcare.  A government report indicated that 92% of millennials identify flexibility as a top priority when job hunting, and at the other end of the workforce, flexible working is becoming a popular way to ease into retirement.

Historically though, flexible work requests have been more likely to be made by returning mothers who want to balance their job with the needs of their family. And if they are offered flexibility, they can end up stuck, due to a lack of more senior flexible roles in their organisation or elsewhere.

This isn’t just a problem for employees; it’s bad news for employers too. It can create a block in the talent pipeline which more junior employees can’t get past. And from a hiring perspective, it immediately limits the pool from which candidates can be found, as many talented individuals can’t consider a non-flexible job.

So what should your organisation do to make flexible working work at a senior level? Here are a few tips:

  • Consider job design carefullyDon’t just assume that cutting the number of days someone works is all it takes to create a flexible role. Look at it from a task and output based perspective and design the role accordingly.
  • Create a supportive culture – Educate and empower your leaders in the benefits of flexible working, and train line managers to implement it effectively. Timewise offer training and consultancy that can support this process.
  • Start as you mean to go on – Don’t just offer senior flexible roles to your own employees. Including the fact that you are open to discussing flexibility in your job adverts will immediately widen your candidate pool.

The future is flexible; and the most successful employers are already adapting to more flexible ways of working. By demonstrating your willingness to do so, both internally and externally, you’ll ensure that your company doesn’t get left behind.

 

Recent articles on our blog....

People chatting in atriumm of building - performance and development conversations

Ask the Expert: Meeting the new standards for addressing Sexual Misconduct and Harassment in Higher Education

June 20, 2025

In this Ask the Expert article, trainer Fiona McPhail offers some thoughts for those involved in helping to ensure Higher Educations Institutions meet the mandatory new requirements for addressing harassment and sexual misconduct.

Read More →
Man and woman in discussion seated across a black table, the photo is taken from outside so a blurred vertical line from the window pane is seen down centre of photo between them

Why saying you have a speaking up culture doesn’t mean you do

June 18, 2025

This disconnect is costing organisations which is why it has become a leadership imperative to understand why attempts at a speaking up culture fail and, more importantly, how one can be built that genuinely works.

Read More →
Pink cherry blossom flowers on tree

Spring into the latest edition of our newsletter which aims to help improve worker wellbeing

May 2, 2025

This edition includes tips on the lemonade mindset and creating a culture of mattering at work.

Read More →

Testimonials

ineq-about-us-150x150

Our purpose is to provide training and consultancy services to enhance resilience, health and wellbeing in the workplace.

ineq-ethos-values-150x150

Differentiation is one of the most strategic and tactical activities in which companies most constantly engage

ineq-faqs-150x150

It's natural to have questions about training and how it fits with your organisation. Our FAQs can help you find out more.

ineq-case-studies-150x150

View case studies for some of the in-house training courses we have delivered to different types of organisations across the UK.