Draft New Working Arrangements for Council
Employees
Wyre Forest District Council is currently considering proposals
to introduce new mobile and flexible ways of working for
employees.
The move is seen as a business necessity to increase process
efficiency and productivity as well as improved availability of
services. The new mobile and flexible working policy will allow
directors to consider the appropriateness of new work styles and
implement them where there are demonstrable and significant
benefits.
Flexible working arrangements already in place at the Council
include flexi-time, job sharing, compressed working
weeks/fortnights and part time working.
The new policy would extend these to include working from home
and mobile working arrangements.
Over the past 12 months the Council has undertaken a number of
pilots in different service areas to test out the practicalities of
mobile and flexible working arrangements and the required
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure.
Results of the pilots have been very positive including an increase
in productivity for one service area by 15%. The experiences and
lessons learnt from the pilots have been used to develop the draft
Policy.
Directors and line managers will identify and assess posts that
are suitable for mobile and flexible working. In assessing the
suitability of posts, amongst other considerations, directors will
consider both the operational efficiencies and the practicalities
of service delivery.
Employees working under the mobile/flexible working policy will
be required to sign a mobile/flexible working personal
plan/agreement to support them with the new working arrangements.
Employees will not be compelled to change to mobile or flexible
working and will have the opportunity to opt-out of the scheme,
Cllr John Campion, Leader of Wyre Forest District Council
said.
"We are a forward thinking council and are constantly reviewing
our operation to ensure we are working as smart as possible.
"As well as undertaking our own pilots, we have researched
flexible working arrangements already adopted by other local
authorities. Feedback shows improved service delivery through
smarter working practices which benefit business, customer and
employees needs.
"There is improved efficiency resulting in a reduction of costs
and increased job satisfaction and a more motivated and productive
workforce.
"There are costs involved with introducing this scheme such as
investment in ICT and outgoings associated with people working from
their homes. These include managed contributions for electricity
bills and broadband connections. However, our projected budgets
show that the benefits outweigh the costs by some distance and it's
important to recognise that our employees will benefit in terms of
work/life balance."
The draft policy will be considered by the Council's Corporate
Resources Scrutiny Committee next week (Thursday 12th
November)
Chairman of the Committee Councillor Graham Ballinger said,
"Before this policy can be adopted it must go through the
Council's Committee procedure. The first stage for this
policy is for it to be presented to the Corporate Resources
Scrutiny Committee. Membership is drawn from all political
parties and it is one of our responsibilities to help develop new
policies. We will be considering all aspects of the report
and making recommendations to the Cabinet."
The draft policy will be taken to Cabinet during November before
consideration by Full Council in December.
If adopted, the roll out and implementation of the mobile and
flexible working policy would be on a phased basis.
Date of issue - 3rd November
2009