Professor Nicholas Branch, Head of School, SAGES
"I am mainly in the office 5 days a week, except when there are student field classes, research trips and external meetings.
I generally arrive at work at 8.15am and leave by 5.15/30pm. This is to ensure that I get home in time to have dinner with my family, and have an hour or so to help my son with his homework, play board games etc.
Later in the evening, I normally resume work either on my research or School matters. My wife is deputy head of a large primary school, and her career is important to both of us. I rely upon having flexible working; it permits me to collect my son from school, and enables my wife to attend meetings and conferences that are important to her career development.
Saturdays and Sunday mornings are family time, and it is very rare these days that I switch-on the laptop. Having a degree of flexibility in my working hours is therefore essential."
Heather Browning, Executive Administration Manager, SAGES
"I work full-time, arriving at my desk by 8am and trying to finish by 5pm; I do try to take a break at lunchtime going for a walk around our beautiful campus. My admin role in the School does allow for some flexible working - having a University issued laptop and phone means I can be in contact at my desk, elsewhere on campus, or working remotely.
My husband is a senior manager in the UK HQ of a car manufacturer, we both similar office hours although his work does involve some overnight travel. As a couple with aged fathers and some siblings that live overseas, we now have caring responsibilities; however the flexible working environment supported by both our employers does allow us to spend some time working remotely at our parents' houses when needed.
I also provide "Auntie Taxi service" for my young nieces attending after School activities so flexibility at the end of the working day is appreciated. The ability to engage with un-planned flexible working pattern does mean that I can respond to both a higher work load at certain periods of time during the academic year and to support my family when needed."
