Flexi-time Survey

Comments received so far:

'3 days in any 2 months. happy for all to have flexi as long as we dont lose ours.'

'As a social worker I work a TOIL system to ensure I recover any hours I work over my contract. Management do accept this but love to try to overcontrol it & thus loose goodwill - the nature of my post is such that planning TOIL as they would like is rather difficult. It would at times be difficult to take it within a month if the workload is heavy at that time which is often why TOIL happens.'

'As a trainer delvering courses throughout the DCC area, some days are quite long - normally because of the travelling involved. I normally take the flexi-leave I build up in days, or occasionally in half days.'

'Can carry upto 24 hours any over this is lost.'

'Comments: Q4a) I build up up to 1 hour a week. Unable to build up more due to health restrictions.'

'Devon Property local rules allow for +16hrs to be carried over, with 1.5days flex leave taken in a month, avaraged over 2 months ie up to3days in two months. I think this is good, & wouldn't want to lose it, but I don't like local arrangements unless they are used to lever others upwards!'

'Different Departments have different rules. We all work for DCC and therefore ought to be able to apply the same rules for all.'

'Environment Directorate are only allowed 3 days flexitime over two months. Other directorates are allowed to take 4 days over two months.'

'Equality - some staff are allowed to work flexi hours whilst others are not. It would be nice to have equality in the same work place.'

'Everyone where possible should have the same choice.'

'Flexi time cannot be carried over from one leave year to the next.'

'Flexi time is very important to me as I start early and finish early because I have a part time evening job and this means I get a break in between jobs. Also I take 3 flexi afternoons a month to visit my Mum who is in a care home.'

'Flexi time measured in hours. Not always possible to use and therefore it can build up to such an extent that it just cannot be taken because there is too much.'

'Flexibility is good for both employees and employer,based on mutual trust.You have to be careful not to build up too much flex time as you won't be able to take it.'

'Flextime measured in hours but max accumulation (very ofter exceeded) is 8 hours. I do not think that all flex-time need be the same as different Directorates have very different needs related to the services they provide.'

'Have never understood why some Directorates can take 2 days per month Flexileave and others, including ours, one and a half, although it is aggregated so that we can take the 3 days over a 2 month period.'

'I am a referrals coordinator and have to book our peripatetic referrals coordinator in order to take any leave including flexi time. I record the times I come to work/leave work on a spreadsheet to keep a tally of time owing. The approach of my manager is quite flexible, I do not have a 'limit' or how much flexi I can build up and I do not have to take it by the end of the month - this would not be possible anyway as I have to have cover in order to take flexi and the peripatetic ric gets booked up especially in the summer. My manager asks each supervision how much flexi I have owing and if this is more than a day or so we discuss when I am going to take it. I would like to be able to take flexi outside of core hours (which I understand are 10-12 and 2-4) but am not allowed to, I have to be here 9-5 (4 on Fridays) with an allocated slot for lunchtime where I can take up to an hour. Due to the nature of my work I sometimes have to stay late or come in early to 'catch up'! - I feel that it is only right that (unfinished).'

'I am aware of colleagues who are discouraged by managers from using the flexitime system, are are told to work standard 9 to 5 type hours instead, it seems very variable from office to office. The concept of flexitime does not seem to be very well understood by employees.'

'I am aware that staff in some DCC departments may take 2 days flex per month and feel strongly that if one department can then so should all others.'

'I am disturbed that flexi-time is being abused by staff - they stay late or start early when often there is no work for them to do, or their start time is predetermined. They then build up lots of flexitime / flexi leave and take whole days off, causing others to cover for them.'

'I do not think the flexi-time should have to be used up in a month. Every office seems to be using a different flexi time system, the same system should be used across DCC, however what is wrong with writing it in your diary?'

'I don't work in a factory. I am a senior clinical specialist and resent the implication that if I didn't clock in and out I would automatically skive off. I am sick of being treated in this and many other ways like a small child and I have conseqently handed in my notice and will be working for another organisation which, I hope, will value my skills and treat me with the respect I expect and deserve.'

'I have hours as I am a part time employee I use flexi time to attend courses etc on days when I would not normally work etc.'

'I think that the flexi system works well with the work group of staff that I manage - allowing flexibility re Children's cover, appointments etc. '

'Personally I am sole carer for my elderly father so it gives me flexibility to 'move' my work day around him if necessary.'

'If people are working on a reception desk, call centre etc, or in a position where hours are fixed for operational reasons.'

'It is not always possible logistically for staff to use flexi-time. I would support it being used where possible. I generally build up around 3-4 hours per month.'

'My flexi time is calculated in hours. As I work part time as a social worker it is very easy to let it build up and I think that with a less flexible manager it could easily be deemed to be lost. It needs to be protected as I can see little merit in working essentially for nothing at a time when it is clear that we are not valued for our work anyway.'

'People can use it but it depends how honest they are. it is still a system that depends on accurate recording. People can work longer hours but still not record them.'

'Re: Question 6: Providing that it fits in with the requirements of any particular job. i.e. in my job the core hours would need to be 10 to 3.'

'Tend to not let the time build up and take it when I have a few hours 'saved'.'

'The nature of my work requires working outside of normal 9 - 5 pattern and so flexitime and TOIL are invaluable to me.'

'The system I use is very simple, suitable and manageable, but does rely on honesty as there is no clock and amounts have to be entered on the sheets manually.'

'Very useful flexi-time and should be available to all staff.'

'We are allowed to carry forward 16 hours flex max taking 2 full days or 4½ days leave per calendar month.'

'We are not allowed flexitime at college - NDC. The college does not recognise TOIL although it wants us to stay on to finish work, take part in evening events go to school visits in the evening etc. This week alone, I have attended late meetings, twice, left the workplace at 6.30pm after starting at 8am and attended a prize-giving event. It is very busy here and getting the work done can be a problem in the hours we have.'

'Why are some employees allowed to build up hours over and above agreed maximum flexi allowances?'

'Working week = 22.5. Usually running at approx 10-12 hrs flex time per month. I find it hard to take the time owing as I have a commitment to keep a switchboard open during lunch period whilst receptionist takes lunch. As I work p / t (not afternoons in the main) I cannot leave early (11.30 / 12.00 for example) as I have to be here between 1 - 2pm. Thus I tend to use time owing by coming in late some mornings, but this is not really satisfactory.'

'Yes we should all get the same, but it should be standardised to the upper limit i.e. two days. The other point of issue is that core hours vary between directorates.'

'Your question Q4b is confusing, do you answer yes or no to the 2 queries!''

'I currently manage to achieve a 9 day fortnight which greatly improves my worklife balance.'

'I manage to take my entitlement approx 75% of the time.'

'We are allowed to accummulate 16 hours of flex time but any time over and above this is lost. In busy periods when extra hours are worked to get the job done for our employer it is easy to exceed the 16 hours and so lose the time.'

'Flexi-time gives our team the flexibility to manage priorities, and leads to good relationships, ie flexibility for the staff can be repaid by staff working longer hours when deadlines loom.'

'The time accummulated is often lost as it means then not doing someother visit or work the next day or week which puts more pressure on you.'

'In this modern era of IT and laptops etc and trying to juggle as a single parent, two teenagers and full time work I would value the opportunity to work flexi time.'

'If people are working on a reception desk, call centre etc, or in a position where hours are fixed for operational reasons.'