The University is committed to supporting flexible working that enables both the needs of the University and the individual to be met.

In response to the feedback from staff to the Athena Swan Survey, work has taken place to produce guidelines to support managers when considering and managing flexible working requests. We have consulted with a variety of colleagues to develop the guidelines, taking into account current working practices which exist across the University.

The guidelines aim to support managers to consider practically how a flexible working request may be able to be accommodated, covering the various flexible working requests which may arise and pointers to consider when assessing whether the request can be accommodated with a view to continuing to both achieve the University’s objectives and priorities and support employees in their work life balance.

Examples of flexible working are included, along with the benefits and potential implications of agreeing the various flexible working requests which may arise.

The guidelines also differentiate between formal and more informal requests and the steps which should be taken to consider and make decisions based on these different requests.

The guidelines are available on the HR website and support the existing Flexible Working Policy.

If you have any queries relating to the principles of flexible working and understanding these guidelines or to discuss specific cases and individual flexible working requests please contact Employee Relations (HRER@nottingham.ac.uk).