Lincolnshire System Flexible Working Principles
1. Individuals should have an opportunity to request to work flexibly from day one of employment. Flexible working opportunities should be offered at all stages in a career, regardless of role, grade, or the reasons for wanting to work flexibly.
2.Though we recognise not all roles are suitable for every type of flexible working, there should be some flexible options available for every role.
3. Job roles across the system are designed and advertised in ways that promote the most flexible appropriate working opportunities, with organisations initiating conversations about flexible working from advert through to each stage of an individual’s working life.
4. All requests for flexible working should be considered on individual merit. Managers should particularly have due regard for applications where the individual has additional protections from the Equality Act 2010 (for example, to meet childcare needs, as an adjustment to support a disability or to meet religious requirements).
5. Individuals, managers and teams work together to explore the flexible working options that are available and seek a practical arrangement which supports the individual.
6. Managers take a positive approach to a flexible working request whenever they can. Organisations, networks, teams, and managers are encouraged to collaborate to think creatively about flexible working solutions, and trial different flexible working options to identify what works best.
7. Managers and individuals jointly agree review periods and discuss flexible working as part of regular conversations to consider whether any additional alternative arrangements are needed to meet the needs of the individual and the business. Regular conversations could include 1 to 1’s, supervision or as part of health and wellbeing.
8. As flexible working agreements (including those put in place to support parental and caring responsibilities) may be subject to change, individuals and managers should agree how any changes should be planned, communicated, and implemented.