The firm was determined to show the offer was not limited to office-based staff and those working from home. Dave Rogers reports
Sir Robert McAlpine teamed up with consultancy Timewise to understand how on-site construction could benefit from flexible working.
Over the past few months the firm has set up two trials, one at its Riverside scheme 鈥� an office job in Sunderland 鈥� and also at the Shepperton studios project in Surrey.
Initial consultation with employees revealed that they were keen to continue working full-time on site, but with adjusted hours.
At Riverside they elected to work longer hours from Monday to Thursday, which enabled them to finish at lunchtime on a Friday. At Shepperton they chose to trial one flex day every three weeks and implement working from home for more operational roles.
On the Shepperton site McAlpine also introduced a 鈥渇lex-buddy鈥� system, which partnered each employee up with another member of the site team who was then responsible for the other鈥檚 key functions when the 鈥渂uddy鈥� was taking a flex day.
Feedback from both trials has been overwhelmingly positive. Employees at Riverside reported that the flexibility gave them the opportunity for self-care, extra time for childminding responsibilities and allowed them to properly recharge their batteries.
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As a result of this success, the arrangements at Riverside will remain in place until the project completes while the trial at Shepperton will be extended for another six months.
This is what some of the people at the Sunderland Riverside scheme had to say:
Peter Andreasen 鈥� Bricklayer
I鈥檓 not taking the Friday afternoon off every week, just when it suits me. It鈥檚 handy to have the option to take the time if you have an appointment to attend, or something you need to sort at home.
It鈥檚 great because, by being able to work the hours through the week, I don鈥檛 end up losing any money.
Ryan Mackay 鈥� Joiner
I鈥檝e taken the time on a Friday afternoon most weeks. I鈥檝e really enjoyed it and it鈥檚 great that it gives me more time at home and the opportunity to make more of my weekend.
I recently went on a camping trip over a weekend, and it meant I could set off earlier on the Friday and make the most of it. That way I didn鈥檛 even need to use holiday.
John Pownall and Richard Laverick 鈥� GCOs
It鈥檚 spot on. It gives you the chance to do things with your family that you wouldn鈥檛 normally have the time to. We鈥檝e never been able to do anything like this before and it feels like the company are trying to give you a bit back.
The biggest benefit of it is definitely getting to spend time with your family. I can鈥檛 see any negatives and think it鈥檚 great. If the works on site mean that you do need to stay on the Friday, then you could make it work on a different day.
Aislinn Chambers-Hey 鈥� Trainee design co-ordinator (pictured)
I think it has been great to have the option to partake in flexible working and you can see the positive impact it is having on everyone鈥檚 work-life balance for those adopting into flexible hours in the office and on site. As I am not from Newcastle and live away from my family home, having a half-day on a Friday allows me to travel down to see my family and friends and get to spend the full Friday evening with them instead of arriving late in the evening.
In my opinion it is brilliant to have what feels like a much longer weekend through working a half-day on a Friday.
Kyle Lindsay 鈥� Scaffolder
I take every other Friday afternoon off to pick up my child from school. It鈥檚 nice because I wouldn鈥檛 normally have had the chance to do that before.
I think it鈥檚 good that people can choose if they want to work the additional 30 minutes on the Monday to Thursday and take the Friday afternoon. It鈥檚 good that it鈥檚 a choice for what works for the individual.
Mitchell Hodgson 鈥� Student engineer
It鈥檚 great to have the longer weekend and gives you more time on the weekend to recharge, especially as I am studying and working. It works well with our subbies too, because they generally finish at the same time on a Friday.
I think it鈥檚 a real positive that the company are focusing on flexible working to help give employees a better work-life balance. I鈥檓 really pleased that it鈥檚 an option that available to us. It was already a great site team to be a part of and people are even happier on a Friday!
David Kirby 鈥� Senior design manager
It works really well for me and makes a big difference. I would be gutted if it w