Flexibility for Women Returning to Work

Grainne O’Kane, HR Manager of business outsourcing company, Firstsource Solutions advises Women in Business NI members on their return to work.

Wednesday 22 February 2012

www.firstsource.comWomen who leave the working world, to raise a family or to assist in the family business or to go travelling are unaware of the options available to them when negotiating their return to work.

Whether through a career break, caring for children or an adult dependent, women are leaving the workplace without giving due consideration to what role they might perform on their return.

Some may simply be going back to their previous role, but for others, they will have to begin the challenging task of looking for a job which offers them the flexibility they need to work from home, continue their professional development, work part-time hours or even shorten their working day.

Under UK law, employees are entitled to make one request per year to negotiate flexible working hours, and whilst this option may not be feasible for some employers, there can be considerable benefits to offering such flexibility to employees as it can give them access to a wider pool of talented and experienced staff or prevent a valuable member of staff from leaving.

The customer services industry is one sector that is used to providing flexible working. There are career opportunities not only dealing direct with customers on phones or online but can also be opportunities for careers in finance, IT, HR , quality and training to support the main business function. And many of our roles require shift working and can be part or full-time. So other commitments can be accommodated within our working patterns. We are also planning to introduce home-working for one of our clients, which will provide additional flexibility for many people.

People from many different backgrounds find themselves in the customer services industry. Whilst a background in customer facing sectors is preferable when we recruit, we also consider people who have worked in areas that need good communications skills. So we have successfully hired people who have been taxi drivers, counsellors, lawyers, teachers and many other professions who due to career breaks or other circumstances, have found it necessary to start a new career.

Employees are also able to further their educational development. Employees in our offices based in Belfast and Derry are encouraged to engage in internal and external training programmes, with many progressing to achieve further education qualifications in their chosen field, with study time provided. Many of our staff have achieved sponsored HNDs in customer services. Others have gone to take MBAs or other professional qualifications. And we are a company that likes to promote from within – so we are always on the look-out for home grown talent.

Whatever the reason for returning to work the lessons for women are clear. If you want to maintain a positive work-life balance, a career in the customer services industry may just be the job for you
www.firstsource.com.

Wednesday 22 February 2012