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Can you have your cake and eat it? The work v life debate
The topic raised more than any other on this website is ‘changing our working lives’. It is an issue which is important to not only our clients, but our staff and the wider public. Suggestions ranged from fewer hours or days at work, to policies that make it easier for carers, to more – or less – use of technology in the workplace. None of this is surprising when you consider that more than nine in ten full time workers – double the level in 1989 – now report they find work stressful.
We held a live debate to discuss this challenging issue, with a panel consisting of Mark Dawson, a PwC Partner leading our People and Change practice, Sarah Churchman, a PwC HR Director responsible for Diversity & Inclusion, Lucy Kellaway, the Financial Times management columnist, and Stephen Bevan, Director of Research at The Work Foundation.
A few of the questions up for debate were:
Is there a trade-off between work and life?
What is good practice in relation to flexible working?
What’s the payback and who should take the lead in delivering it?
What does the future of work look like?
We would encourage you to join the debate and think about what work-life balance means to you. If you would like to talk about work-life balance in your organisation, please or ring Mark Dawson - People and Change – +44 (0) 20 7213 2530, Sarah Churchman – Diversity and Inclusion – +44 (0) 20 7212 3788
How much emphasis should be placed on the individual and how much on the organisation?
And what impact would this have on family life?
I have worked in various settings over the last seventeen years, and the one thing I have noticed and miss is the lack of regular tea-breaks. More people are now working straight through an afternoon or morning. If it is not convenient to have everyone take breaks at the same time, then why not stagger them, but please re-introduce them. A 10 or 15 minute recharge can do wonders.
Added by Karen on 23-10-2007
a "work from home one day a week" policy. benefits to the environment and easing congestion on public transport would be huge
Added by Anonymous on 23-10-2007
I would like the ladies toilets in my office revamped so they have sparkling white sinks, fancy chrome taps, soft lighting and hand cream on tap with the lovely aroma of just being cleaned!
Added by Clare Malpass on 23-10-2007
Yeah - a free gym membership at my work would do as well as more time to attend. My finance works for an international IT firm and they play football at lunch twice a week, as well as running once a week and still get out at 5!
Added by Anonymous on 22-10-2007
More simplified log in process to computer work system, rather than 3 or 4 separate user name and password prompts for safeguard easy, network, email, portal and so on (even more when dialling up from home)
Added by Laura Graham on 22-10-2007
Being able to leave work at 5pm on a Friday instead of 5.30pm, you would be amazed at how much of a difference that half hour will make on your day.
Added by Nikki Pearson on 22-10-2007
I work in the health service as a radiographer. I have done for 30 years. I would like to see a task force set up which could go into hospitals and teach the people who manage x-ray services how to manage staff and lead properly. What demoralises staff is the lack of logical decision making, unfairness, inappropriate systems and a lack of patient focused leadership. Everyone is treading water and looking after themselves instead of being focused on the task at hand, which is caring for the sick. A management model needs to be established and adhered to. Inspected regularly by a dedicated team of experts. The model could be adapted and expanded to other departments. It is the detail of activity which determines service quality not necessarily sweeping policy changes. The success of the NHS is down to those who deliver it. They cannot deliver when poor management prevents it. Who can staff go to when they believe the managers are unable to manage effectively? It feels as if the managers conspire together to hide their incompetence. Who do they report to? Another suggestion would be to appoint in every trust a competent person that staff could complain to ,confidentially, about poor decision making and unfair treatment.
Added by Stephen Mckenna on 19-10-2007
Office envelopes that actually stick with their own gum, instead of having to sellotape letters.
Added by Sandie Corrigan on 18-10-2007
Email free Fridays - or at least mornings - imagine how much you could plough through without the pressure of constantly checking your in box for urgent issues - bliss - this would certainly even out the work life balance by enabling you to leave the office at a respectable time and spending time on yourself and encourage people to actually talk!
Added by Sandie Corrigan on 18-10-2007
I would like to be able to change the waiting music when I am put on call hold to whatever track I like
Added by John on 17-10-2007
Replace lotus notes email with Microsoft Outlook.
Added by Anonymous on 16-10-2007
Outsourcing does not work, the hidden costs are killing businesses
Added by Thom on 16-10-2007
It would be good if there was a good choice of clubs and societies to join at work. A hockey team would be good. This would enable colleagues to socialize out of the office with no work pressures and therefore improve relationships!
Added by Anonymous on 16-10-2007
It would be nice to be granted half a day off per week to get personal business dealt with. Time to go to the bank or get the car fixed etc! Most places (particularly in NI) only work office hours!
Added by Anonymous on 16-10-2007
4 Day working week, with a 3 Day Week end.
Or
A creeping week where - 5 Days on 3 days off means - your time off moves through the week.
Added by Tim on 16-10-2007
Rather than be allowed a telephone and either a blackberry or an orange card (- is it possible to change it to being allowed 2 connected devices in total. (Eg It would be a viable option to use blackberry as a voice tool as well as an email tool and then have an orange card too, dropping the need for a phone)
Added by William Winter on 15-10-2007
Staff who remember that work is an activity not a geographical location. The office is not an extension of their home life, not a social club, gym, restaurant, coffee shop.
Added by Anonymous on 12-10-2007
Free gym membership through work
Added by Anonymous on 12-10-2007
Work life balance is a responsibility for all. It is not the hours you put in at work but the work you do in those hours that is more important. Each and everyone of us can make this change by doing small simple things that in time will lead to overall organisational culture change.
Added by Anonymous on 11-10-2007
Less meetings, power to make decisions at a lower level backed up with authority to commit to expenditure. A total ban on management speak and a ban on E Mails.
Added by Meurig Davies on 10-10-2007
That was the best Comment i have ever seen. It was absolute brilliant work I was waiting to read, and I had the time to study. MY name is Amran I live in Leeds UK, am studying LEEDS Metropolitan university, am doing International Development, am will to help the poor counties.
if you have any Advice you may have to give me that will be grateful, I appreciate your comment
Added by Amran Adam on 09-10-2007
Why is it that when things are going well, Exeutives take a disproportionate share of the bonuses and when times are not so good, they still take a disproportionate share of the bonuses - and then fire the workers.
Added by Anonymous on 09-10-2007
I think life without timesheets would be a great thing!
Added by Dulcie Smith on 09-10-2007
The chairs in my office. Ergonomics are appalling!
Added by Jonathan Grant on 08-10-2007
To see all NHS/hospital staff remove their protective clothing/overalls/uniforms before:
going on breaks - meal or rest, especially smoke breaks
going to the toilet
going outside their place of work e.g travel to & from their workplace
Added by Sarah Home on 07-10-2007
The chairs in my office!
Added by Chris Knight on 05-10-2007
Why not have a doctor/GP based at work?
Added by Katie on 05-10-2007
1)TO HAVE FLEXI WORKING HOURS .
2)To have honest feedback sessions
Added by Anonymous on 05-10-2007
I agree - the work/life balance objective goes largely unrecognised by senior management, who then create a culture encouraging long hours.
I realise that our reward in part reflects sheer effort, but if you pay people expecting long hours, then at least be honest that work/life balance (in respect of hours) does not really apply.
If we could have more staff and create a culture built around a 40 hour max working week, then I would be more than prepared to take a pay cut. The benefits to myself and my family would far outweigh the pay, it would encourage me to stay longer term, and I think I would be more motivated and productive.
Added by Anonymous on 05-10-2007
Have book clubs / shelves in the work place around shared/social areas to encourage people to get away from their PC over lunch. And people can read on the journey to and from work. I am always running out of books!
Added by Anonymous on 05-10-2007
Would like to spend more time with family and friends, more work life balance, shorter hours of work.
Added by Anonymous on 05-10-2007
True equal opportunities - too much of business is run by white middle class males who are either blinkered to this or frightened of challenging the status quo
Added by Anonymous on 03-10-2007
I would like to see everyone make a stand against the global corporate culture of long working hours. Can a company/firm be brave and experiment with making sure they have sufficient staff to do the job so that everyone is not so stretched and actually has the opporutnity to do a job well - would it result in a short time hit on profit but a much longer overall benefit with happier, productive staff nad less stress-related illness?
Added by Anonymous on 01-10-2007
Cut down on open plan floors..crampled space, very noisy, no privacy, largely unsuitable for the type of work we do.
Added by Anonymous on 01-10-2007
improve office dress code..has really gone down market and invariably unprofessional. Ban jeans etc.
Added by Anonymous on 01-10-2007
More appropriate heating in our office
Added by Anonymous on 01-10-2007
People should stop equating sitting at your desk with hard work. If I want to leave on time, I will
Added by Anonymous on 29-09-2007
More flexible working hours and reduced working hours
Added by Anonymous on 28-09-2007
Turn the lifts off in Cornwall Court, and make people use the stairs one day a week - instead of buying into more carbon neutral products we should focus on reducing energy first
Added by Anonymous on 28-09-2007
Ban noisy bags of crisps from the office. And from trains for that matter.
Added by Anonymous on 27-09-2007
Get rid of hotdesking.
Added by Anonymous on 27-09-2007
The dress code in the office so it was less formal. I know a few people who would ditch their cars and cycle to work it they didnt have to wear a suit.
Added by Richard Donaldson on 27-09-2007
little less conversation and more action. For example take up the world 9 to 5 challenge and use the £1000 to support the initiative!
Added by jeni taylor on 26-09-2007
BAN LOTUS NOTES!
Added by Anonymous on 26-09-2007
Work and social life need a better balance. You only have one chance at life, so dont waste it. e-mails take away the personal touch of communication.
Added by Grant Williams on 26-09-2007
To do a job that truly enjoyable
Added by Anonymous on 26-09-2007
I would like work holiday allowance to be increased from 4 weeks to five.
Added by Victoria Butler on 26-09-2007
I wish we could play more and work less. All for the 3 day weekend!
Added by Jenny Smith on 25-09-2007
The amount of good looking women in my office!
Added by Anonymous on 25-09-2007
Take Your Cat To Work day
Added by Silvia on 24-09-2007
Ambition makes you look pretty ugly.
Added by Colin Greenwood on 24-09-2007
3 day weekend / 4 day week
Added by Thom on 24-09-2007
I think a 3 day week would be great.
Added by Lazy on 24-09-2007
The fact that almost none of my clients are in London and it would be nice to spend some time at home now and again!
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
Get a better balance between work and outside work in terms of creative energy
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
My work life balance
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
Work hours from 9-5 to 11-7
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
The amount of time I spend with my family (more time please!!)
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
Have more time to volunteer tohelp those less privileged
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
A way to juggle my work with my home life with two small children more effectively
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
Spend more time with friends and family
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
The amount of time I get to spend with my daughter
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
Fridays into Saturdays - why are Fridays always so busy!
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
Do more charity work, more fun in work
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
I'd like to remove all visa requirements to allow anyone to work anywhere in the world
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
Building better relationships with the people around me
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
The working week to a 4 day and an bank holiday each month. We are the hardest working country in Europe
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
Accepted conference call lingo example: Great idea, lets reach out to the team and run it up the flag pole and see who salutes it. What??
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
3 day weekends, assuming I achieve the above, 4 day weekends will be the next goal
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
For people to always use dialogue to understand each other, for people to work for the success of teams rather than just individuals
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
The disconnect between people and business in the developing world
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
My share of global GDP by the year 2020
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
The number of hours peole work in the day - Reduce!! And my socks
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
Mandatory 1 hour lunch break
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
Working hours to flexi time
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
The working week from 5 days to 4 days
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
To freelance and set-up my own little business, in order to spend more time with my 3 kids
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
Weekends so they are 3 days long rather than 2
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
Friday working hours to finish 1 hour earlier
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
The working week to two days
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
The pressure some people face to have to work long hours, sometimes just for keeping up appearances
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
A 3 day weekend!
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
Flexible working approaches and methods to improve work life balance
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
Stop the National Children's Register - it's not necessary. Good practice and joined up working will deliver the outcomes
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
The British weather; PCs into Macs, the internet into a safe place for business
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
How people understand each other. Too many people both inside and outside work do not try and understand different perspectives - I think if this change so much more could be achieved
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
Reduce travel, work smarter - at home - local work = happy people and lower carbon footprint
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
To reduce the internal paper used to communicate. We waste too much!
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
The waterfall of emails into a managable stream. The need for us to have to recognise that there is a less developed part of the world - equality delivered for all
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
The quality of my communications for the better... and the quality for the UK Summer!
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
How people share and develop their ideas, no matter what those ideas are. Ideas are the lifeblood of change, and life is a lot more interesting when you give your imagination free rein
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
I'd like to 'un-invent' PowerPoint
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
I would like to change the time taken to start my computer
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
How technology has become the more common way to communicate - rather than human contact. Both on a personal level - text message and emails and in business and PS - social work admin is 80%, 1-2-1 contact 20%
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
Make music be the first thing that greets you when you enter the office in the morning. People eating lunch at their desk
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
My office space. I would like it to be cleaner, tidier, more organised and better laid out as I think this would make life a lot easier. Also greener - more recycling points
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
Even out workload; so that nobody is working stupid hours or is on the bench. Increase recycling awareness, paper, vending cups, plastic bottles should all be recycled
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
How much people really enjoy themselves at work and Aircon on the tube and buses
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
The American President ... no more Bush!, The weather, Less paper/circulars - email please
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
Cruelty to children that NSPCC ad is awful, Spam mail - what a waste to trees
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
Weekends are 4 days long, Rio de Janiero is the new last stop on the Northern Line
Added by Anonymous on 21-09-2007
To change PwC Uk policy not to provide Blackberry to Executives
Added by Saujanya Phagre on 17-06-2008
The immens diversification of both services and products led by customer desire will come to an end due to a lack of resources in the future. Within 10 years we will see that the customer loses its choice and a few companies dictate the price of products. Oil is showing us how this is working and there is not much to stop them. This can be generalised I feel across the line
Added by Youri Hiddes on 17-06-2008
I would like the PAs views on business matters to be taken into consideration - as I feel we have a lot to offer that is never used.
Lynn Kelly, Warburtons Limited
Added by Lynn Kelly on 12-06-2008
what I would like to change about the perception of the PA role is that intelligence and common sense are "must have" qualities, not simply "nice to have" qualities.
Added by Sandra Lea on 04-06-2008
How we see work life balance. Is it really about work vs life? Having clear priorities, recognising the contribution work makes to our lives and the opportunity to have flexibility as those priorities change is the key to managing stress.
Added by Maureen Black - SmartForward Coaching on 04-06-2008
I would like to see the PwC policy of using lesser emails actually being implemented by the people of the firm. The firm teaches that we should rather try to go over to the person and talk if they are nearby or call them or use sametime so as to reduce the load on the servers. I have tried doing the alternates at various occassions, but people have always told me to write all I want to say in a mail and send it to them.
Added by Anonymous on 29-05-2008
A desktop PC as well as a laptop would be great.
Added by Tracy on 19-05-2008
There are different styles of leadership. The proposition team refered to functional leadership, management being one of them. There is a style of leadership which I consider is the best one: transformational leadership which is inspirational, considerate, intellectually challenging and focused on goup success and welfare. Leaders are coherent and moral leadership is a critical element of transformational leadership, therefore challenging status quo is inminent. I guess a more challenging question for the panel would be: Is PwC prepared to appreciate transformational leadership as much as functional leadership?
Added by Eugenia on 15-05-2008
I would like to see fresh fruit my floor of Union street. I think it would help towards a healthy lifestyle. My housemate who works for a competitor has fresh fruit each day and explain its helps them work during the day as it refreshes them. I would also like to see the canteen price at union street decrease, as its not that cheap and does not offer a lof of different lunches. There is a lack of warm lunch options.
Many thanks
Added by Neil Dickerson on 02-04-2008
Get rid of the timers on the office lighting, go back to having light switches for individual offices / areas of the floor, get security to turn off the lights off after normal business hours if nobody is working on the floor.
Added by Philip Bloomfield on 28-03-2008
I am willing to increase the public awareness about the Internal Audit profession, so that they would understand the true meaning of this beautiful profession.
Added by Erjan B. Djumabaev on 25-03-2008
PwC has the collective brainpower and CSR mentality to solve the rural post office issue. It must be possible to find a sustainable business model to keep these post offices going.
This weekend on a delayed flight three passengers from PwC, Nike and Diageo brainstormed for 30 minutes. This can be solved and what a way for PwC to leave its mark on the community. Run a national challenge (it could even make good television) to reinvent the post office.
On the runway we already came up with ... act as an agent - an order and delivery point for all online sales (target the elderly or non web users) with support for local suppliers - Opodo would no doubt be interested to be a business partner offering commission and could agree to protect/support local businesses - a cash dispenser for online banking customers - a prescriptions collection point - a delivery service (combined with postal drop off) ... dry cleaning ... the possibilities are endless ........
Find a consultant with time and ambition and change the UK for good
Added by Simon Wray on 19-03-2008
Age has become a disability! Starting a business at any age is difficult, at 50+ it is even more challenging! Any advice on this issue should carry a "Government Wealth Warning". The current government are only just getting to grips with the facts and realities of over 20 years of ageist discrimination across the workplace. Probabley because of this out of balance displacement of a large skilled and experienced sector of workers, who will probably never get the opportunity of a "proper" job again, the over 50s are being enticed and cajoled into going self empoyed: there is advice but little effective support or funding. AND certainly no safety net. There is no room or time to make mistakes at 50+, caution rules.
Exciting times for some if they have the funds to create a sustainable business even if it is just for the fun of it! However for those over 50 that need to WORK to survive this type of self employment iniative can be no solution with out financial support.
Added by Mike Morris on 06-03-2008
This is brilliant! as a pwc employee, this idea makes me feel proud to work here! Pramal Lad, Birmingham M&A Tax
Added by Pramal Lad on 06-03-2008
I would like to see the Confederation of British Industry and individual companies held at least financially responsible for the massive human and public funding costs of the poor mental health their excessive and bullying culture of work, work, work creates. We all pay for this with our own mental health, our loved ones mental health and through the taxws we pay for these problems to be addressed by equally over-worked health service and social care staff. Make the polluters pay.
Added by NHS Counsellor. on 05-03-2008
i would like to change my password
Added by haris on 04-03-2008
The way our phone system works. The number withheld message that our clients get is quite frankly unacceptable as withheld usually means that it is a cold caller or other organisation that you would not want to answer the phone to. We should have number presentation services on our outgoing calls that give the direct line number of the person that has called the client
Added by Warren Meads on 22-02-2008
Staff should be encouraged to consier taking a week out from the business to undertake an "experience" of benefit to their personal development. Whilst people can seek out such opportunities currently, this experience does not need a community or charitable basis. It is about individual experiences and learning in a more challenging and stimulating way. An individual might take no more than one experience evert 2-3 years, arranging the opportunities themselves and submitting a written learning/business case for approval. These opportunities should be detailed in the Development Framework to increase awareness of their availability. We would like such experience to become the norm as people take responsibility for their own development and explode the boundaries of what constitutes "training".
Added by On behalf of the BRS Group Manager forum on 20-02-2008
There should be an improvement in the interaction at a human level between the owners of this business and their people. Partners (and directors) should be challenged to get to know their people as people and not as "staff", "resource" or "capital", and to allow their people to know them similarly. Individual measures such as "Grab a Graduate", Partner/Director shadowing, taking junior colleagues to client meetings, travelling to events together, upward coaching may assist.
Added by On behalf of the BRS Group Manager forum on 20-02-2008
Work / Life balance - Working additonal hours for free because you have already reached the toil limit is not acceptable
Added by Anonymous on 18-02-2008
Internal systems that join up. For example: link company credit card info to pre-populate expenses claims systems - saving staff time, which can be used to add value to clients instead of doing admin. Also, populate time sheet system, again saving staff time by reducing duplication.
Added by Jane Mellor on 18-02-2008
TOIL should not be capped, having worked enough TOIL hours in January to take me to the 6 day limit I will find the rest of the year extremely frustrating when I am expected to give up my own time for late night working/weekend stockcounts knowing I am giving up my own time with no compensation.
Added by Anonymous on 24-01-2008
Work ethics. Start earlier, work harder and finished earlier, less tea breaks, less spurious meetings and most importantly less fear of sacking employees not pulling their weight
Added by Jeff on 17-01-2008
Too much push for everything to be done in a hurry, rather than with sufficient consideration
Added by Anonymous on 08-01-2008
I would like the working week to be acknowledged as a working week. Why do people feel they can send out e-mails at midnight! I acknowledge that we work longer hours, more now than we ever have, but it is unacceptable for people to continue working into the night. they have a responsibility to think about the impact that the working hours they impose on themselves has a direct impact on those who work with them.
Added by Julie on 21-12-2007
bad backs and necks by having in house masseuses.
Added by Nathan A Evans on 20-12-2007
Scrap boring strategy days and have a team building day out - i.e. raft building.
Added by Nathan A Evans on 20-12-2007
Blackberrys and mobiles should be left in pockets rather than on the desk during all meetings (internal and external)
Added by Martin Cowie on 13-12-2007
I hope to see more company / department events which encourage us to invite our spouses along. Not only would this act as a platform for networking but also allow our spouses to better understand the awesome people we are working with.
Added by Klenn Yeo on 12-12-2007
My office needs a specific prayer room.
Added by FARIDA KHAWAJA on 11-12-2007
I would like to make it easier for men and women who are not mothers to working flexibly
Added by Anon on 10-12-2007
I would like to see the pay structure in my company in my region come in to line with the structure in the rest of the UK as the cost of living has dramatically increased in the past 2 years where I live.
Added by Anonymous on 06-12-2007
I would like to see flexi time introduced in my company which would help those who travel long distances.
Added by Anonymous on 06-12-2007
I would like to have sufficient time to do my job properly / to the best of my abilities
Added by Anonymous on 04-12-2007
I would like to change the hotelling system that can operate in large companies, as it can get your day off to a really bad start if someone has sat in your booked seat, and it is rare that junior members of the team get to sit within their team, doing little to foster team relationships.
Added by Paul Swinney on 04-12-2007
The amount of food wasted in my office following briefings/meetings. To reduce this wastage actively redistribute the food or donate to the homeless at the end of the day
Added by Anonymous on 04-12-2007
make business systems work quickly and efficiently when working from home, to bring true flexibility
Added by Simon Daniels on 04-12-2007
i would like to see more managers say - sorry, this is not achieveable working a 12 hour day - instead of constantly imposing fictitious dead lines and killing their underlings
Added by Anonymous on 28-11-2007
Listening to the four-day week podcast it strikes me that work life balance is not so much a question of how to better draw boundaries between work and life but more to acknowledge that work is part of life and to better integrate it. I am wondering whether we need to reframe the problem in order to come up with new and innovative solutions to improve peoples lives.
Added by Michaela Mueller on 28-11-2007
Could we please replace coffee and tea machines ( because the taste is not great) in all offices with vouchers for Costa Coffee or even old fashioned tea/ coffee trolleys!
Added by anne fergusson on 27-11-2007
Flexi-time would be great
Added by Ray on 26-11-2007
People work to hard
Added by Neil Skillcone on 26-11-2007
Four day week!
Added by Anonymous on 26-11-2007
I would like to make it easier to access doctors for appointments outside of working hours. I work in a field based job and need more flexibility to see the doctors without having to take a whole morning or afternoon off work.
Added by lisa gibbs on 25-11-2007
I want to work less hours or else get paid for all the hours that i work. I want a work-life balance and I dont want to have to fly as part of my job
Added by Anonymous on 23-11-2007
Internal envelopes that are fastened with string or a flap rather than the envelopes we currently have where people staple or tape them. They would last longer and not get so tatty.
Added by Anonymous on 22-11-2007
I wish we had a better working environment, hot desking is okay (assuming you can get a desk) but constantly working on laptops is not great we should have keyboards and laptop stands at every hot desk. It is causing me and others I know big back pain problems.
Added by Anonymous on 22-11-2007
To work with more open minded people who want to move forward and not remain stagnant, also to allow new members of staff the same opportunities as those who have worked there for years or lived there all their lives
Added by V Fox on 21-11-2007
I will very much like to see better working conditions for women with children so they feel they are able to balance work and life time.
Added by Anonymous on 20-11-2007
More flexible working hours for all
Added by Tom on 20-11-2007
Ban blackberries!
Added by Michael on 19-11-2007
More help for lone parents trying to get back into work. Help finding after school care for children of all ages and more flexibility from employeers.
Added by Miss Newman on 19-11-2007
influence government to adopt systems thinking in the way in which it approaches perfromance management across all departments instead of a top down driven easily measured numerical tragets - each from a dept silo perspective. Although there is alot of talk about changing (e.g. APACS) at the heart of the cancer of the current management approach appears to be the lack of the required cross cutting strategic thinking at the very top of the givnt depts at ministerial level. If this were addressed the benefits would be enjoyed by provate/public/ thrid sector and the public at large.
Added by Peter Blackburn on 18-11-2007
Move the holiday year end and benefits programme year end from mad Sept to sensible Dec ( or poss June)
Added by Anonymous on 15-11-2007
Extra paid holiday entitlement for those working away from home for long periods. About 1 day per month would be right. So in a year I would get an extra two weeks of leave to compensate my family for being a weekend only father.
Added by Richard on 15-11-2007
Less politics at the workplace, please!
Added by Anonymous on 15-11-2007
I would like to see changes in the way travel and accommodation is booked, as I believe a more unified approach would be beneficial to both my firm and the individual. In my sector everyone upto senior manager books their own travel and accommodation and there are restrictions on what class of travel maybe used. Other sectors utilise sectretaries which book travel at a significant cost through HR. Depending on the way the secretaries make the booking (email, phone) etc reflects the price
Added by Amanda Summers on 13-11-2007
We would like a sports facility for the people at work, or a nearby gym membership as part ofour employees benefit plan.
Added by Caroline on 13-11-2007
Executive and Management teams within the NHS should take time out from their offices to meet the front line staff in all areas. This would break down the barriers between workforce and managers and the feeling of "they sit at their desk and do not know what they are doing". If they met nurses, healthcarers, cleaners, ward housekeepers then they would be able to "nip their issues in the bud" rather than having low staff moral, no recognition nor respect for their management team. We are all humans so lets walk and communicate and break the walls that exist.
Added by Dina on 11-11-2007
stricter comings and goings of patients whilst in our care ie patients are allowed to wonder the grounds whenever even leaving hospital site to enter parks ect this in my opinion is a infection risk not only to the individual but to other patients on the wards we also still have to endure abuse quite alot of verbal and some phyical there is not enough time concentrated on these matters . The other problem is catering for patients food there is an awful lot of waste but then alot of the time patients dont get the items ordered so they wont eat other things offered so it is thrown away staff are not allowed to eat anything that is left over whereas if the food left is edible staff offer a small sum ie 50 pence to a £1 to save waste
Added by mrs c.m.chandler on 10-11-2007
I would like more innovative client entertainment
Added by Tom on 09-11-2007
Respect, understanding and greater efficiency... please
Added by Peter M on 07-11-2007
NI "Service Industry" culture that means estate agents, travel agents, car and kitchen showrooms, etc. are closed at weekends
Added by Anaonymous on 06-11-2007
Quite simply; we go through so much intensive training when we first start work, that we cannot possibly be expected to really keep it in. After every single course we go on, we should be allowed to shadow someone who is putting the course content into practice so that we can actually see what it really means. This goes for major implementations as well as minor things like spreadsheet reviews or even report writing. This would build our confidence in the many things we get involved in and take away the fear factor.
Added by Ian Willis on 05-11-2007
please please please get rid of lotus notes!! The whole world uses Outlook!
Added by Anonymous on 05-11-2007
I would like to have an hour for lunch everyday rather than have to eat at my desk while i work
Added by Anonymous on 05-11-2007
Why in this era of carbon footprints, and energy saving does my office work longer hours through the winter months, when additional lighting and heating are required?
Added by Anonymous on 02-11-2007
I would to change Hotdesking.
I hate it.
I am in the office most days and not having your own desk is the worst part of my day. Fighting over a place then having to set up your screen how you like it. Its ridiculous
Added by Rebecca on 30-10-2007
More options to work locally - spending 2-3 hours a day commuting is stressful, a waste of time, and environmentally polluting. I am a university researcher, and would like to see more opportunities and funding available within regional universities, rather than current bias towards universities in London.
Added by Carolyn Dent on 30-10-2007
I think the world should slow down.
Added by Jason on 29-10-2007
Whoever said ban lotus notes, you are a genius, i am not worthy
Added by Anonymous on 26-10-2007
my job..... i would like to stay at home so i can grow carrots and feed my chickens
Added by Martha on 26-10-2007
businesses to be run like schools - have half terms, do sport during the day, leave at 3.30!
Added by Caroline Fleming on 26-10-2007
Office buildings that have stairs that are accessible from the ground floor and that are not designed to require individuals to use the lifts to reach any other floor. It is often faster to use the stairs than the lifts for short journeys, more healthy and uses less energy, so helping the business towards reducing carbon emissions.
Added by Anonymous on 26-10-2007
