Why flex?

Flexible working is about you having more control over where, when and how much you work. There are lots of ways to make flex work across different roles and career stages.

It’s not just for specific groups – anyone can request flex, and there are lots of options to consider. Flex is about finding the arrangement that works for you, your team and your patients or service users.

• Being able to balance your job with responsibilities and interests outside work can have a big impact on your health and wellbeing.
• For employers, offering flexible working has been shown to boost recruitment – 9 out of 10 jobseekers want increased flexibility, and for many, flexible working is one of the most important factors in choosing a new job. Research has shown that job adverts offering flexible working attracted up to 30% more applicants, and that greater flexibility helps to increase equality and diversity in our workforce.
• Flex is also a great way to retain experienced staff. Making flexible working opportunities available leads to greater engagement, and evidence across the NHS has shown that increasing flexibility leads to reduced vacancy rates.
• Offering flexible roles can help reduce agency and recruitment costs in the long term.
• Ultimately, by supporting NHS staff, flexible working helps us to offer better patient care.

• Despite the obvious benefits, there’s still resistance from some employers – sometimes due to myths about who flexible working is for, and its perceived impact on individuals and teams.
• But there are also genuine challenges to deliver flexible working in highly pressured and over-stretched NHS environments where staffing shortages can make filling rotas a daily struggle.

• The NHS is facing a shortfall in its workforce of between 260,000 – 360,000 in the next 12 years. Right now, there are over 120,000 vacancies – around one in every twelve posts. And with leaver rates at a historic high, things are going in the wrong direction.
• The workforce crisis is creating a vicious cycle of increased stress and burnout for health workers, and negatively impacting patient care.
• A lack of flexibility can drive out staff who would otherwise stay – last year over 30,000 staff left their NHS role due to work-life balance.
• On the flip side, flexible working offers a big opportunity to attract, retain and support staff.
• With around 1 in 3 NHS staff having caring responsibilities, and 28% aged over 50, the potential impact of better flex is huge.

• There’s no one reason for wanting more flexibility, and no single group or job role who can work flexibly.
• Whether it’s balancing work with caring responsibilities, flexible retirement or time to develop your interests outside work, better flex could help you achieve your goals and improve your health and wellbeing.
• Our #TalkAboutFlex website and campaign brings together advice, resources and case studies to help you get started on your flex journey.
• Explore our finding flex page for NHS staff, or our leading flex page for NHS managers and get your flex on!