Working flexible hours can be a great way to get the best of both worlds. It allows you to work when it suits you and not when your boss decides they want you to work. Working flexibly is becoming more and more of a popular option for people in the UK, with flexible working hours being on the rise.
You don’t have to work from home or on a flexible schedule – there are lots of other flexible options out there too. There’s no one-size-fits-all flexible job so it’s important to think about what suits your lifestyle best before making any decisions. This article will explore some different ways in which flexible employment can work for people in the UK and why it might suit them more than a standard job does.
Types of Flexible Working
Remote Working
Working remotely means that all of your work is done away from the office which means that you don’t have to worry about transport costs and can save a lot of money on your commute every day. Since you don’t have to go into the office at all, you can live and work anywhere around the world, which makes remote working a great option for an individual who wants to travel or move abroad.
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Telecommuting
The term telecommuting refers to a job that’s carried out remotely only part of the time. It can be a full-time position, however since telecommuting usually means employees come into the office semi-regularly, the workers in this arrangement usually live locally. Telecommuting schedules can typically offer an employee two or three days from five in the office and the rest from home each week. This may suit an individual who prefers to have some structure, whilst also having more freedom than a standard office job.
Customised Working Hours
Some companies allow workers to choose their own work hours (within reason). Some of us are morning people, others have more energy in the evening, and some simply want to avoid rush hour or pick up their children at a certain time. If this applies to you then searching for a role that offers customisable hours might be a good move for you. As long as the work gets done, and you’re reasonable with the hours that you request, you’ll gain a good level of freedom by working this way.
Condensed Workweeks
Employers may want their workers to maintain a 40-hour workweek but can be flexible on where and when those hours are spent. For many job seekers, it’s the ultimate schedule, having a condensed work week, which equates to four 10-hour days and Fridays off. It’s only suitable for workers who can remain productive throughout long workdays, but if this sounds like you and you’d like to have longer weekends, or a break in the middle of the week, then this could be a great option for you to explore.
Part-time Positions
If you’re looking for some extra cash you can pick up extra work on a part-time basis. Many people obtain two part-time jobs to enable them to get a full-time wage, whilst having some variation in their work to keep it interesting. However, part-time jobs don’t just have to be for people wanting to do extra work, they can be your only job if you’ve got existing commitments or you’re wanting to keep some time for yourself. Part-time jobs can be great as some employers offer the same company benefits to part-time workers as they do full-time workers in order to attract high-quality employees.
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Next Steps
Browse the Refreshing a Career website for help and advice during your job search. Feel free to contact us for additional support. And finally, don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest news and information from Refreshing a Career.
