Flexible Working

Hello 👋 

If you’re following me on LinkedIn, you’ll have probably read a few of my posts about the importance of flexible working.

It’s a topic I’m passionate about, and it’s even led to me taking on brand ambassador roles with Flexa and Reef.

In this newsletter, I want to dive into a few common misconceptions about flexible working. My thoughts come from personal experience as a dad, unpaid carer, and small business owner.

Flexible Working Misconceptions…

1. It’s all about working from home

When I enter conversations about flexible working, I can usually tell who understands it very quickly.

Many think it’s only about where you work, specifically, working from home, but flexible working is much more than that. It’s also about how you work (part-time, job share) and when you work (flexible hours, compressed hours & work week).

The idea that flexible working just means working from home is outdated. I often work from Reef locations and meet clients at coffee shops.

Flexibility is about enabling people to work in the way that best suits their life circumstances, not just their location.

2. Harder to maintain communication and collaboration with others

How often have you been in an office speaking with your leader and someone stops by and interrupts the conversation? This is very normal in an office environment. There’s a lot of distractions. But, when you’re on a video call with someone, there’s a lot more focus and concentration.

When I was in employment, I always found better communication with my leaders via video calls because they’re providing me with dedicated time.

When in-person, there was always a distraction nearby or mobile phones were buzzing and being checked. So personally, I’ve found relationships easier to maintain on video calls and 1:1 coffee chats.

There’s just more respect and dedication given when in a 1:1 environment compared to those in an office environment.

I find it easier to maintain good communication and collaboration with others.

3. It encourages laziness and people slack off

There’s still a lingering belief that people who want flexible work just want to sit at home in their PJs, doing less. But the reality is far from this stereotype.

Many people need flexibility to balance their home and work lives—whether they’re working parents, unpaid carers, or people managing chronic illness and disabilities.

Flexibility isn’t about avoiding work; it’s about adapting work to suit different personal needs.

The traditional one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work anymore, and flexible work enables more people to get involved in employment.

If you’re curious about companies that are truly leading the way in offering flexibility, check out Flexa.

Final thoughts…

People just need choice - the choice to work in a way that fits their life and their family’s needs.

Work and life are deeply interconnected. I’ve never been able to give my best at work when I wasn’t happy or fulfilled in my home life. And employers who don’t offer flexible working options are missing out on a happier, more productive workforce.

If an employer doesn’t provide flexible working options, it’s often because:

• They don’t want to

• They don’t know how to implement it

• They didn’t get flexible working in their own career, so aren’t willing to provide it to others

Times have changed, and leadership needs to adapt to modern life.

If you’re unable to get the flexibility you need in your current role, consider exploring a skillset (or idea) you have and think about whether starting your own business might be an option for you.

If you’ve ever thought, “I’d love to start my own business,” then start planning now. You don’t have to quit your job right away—start building on the side.

Ps. Running your own business will give you flexibility, but don’t forget that it comes with its own challenges. You’ll likely work long hours and face a lot of stress. But then again, working in a rigid, inflexible job is hard too.

So, in the end, you just have to pick your hard.

Thanks for reading! I appreciate you all.