Cura would not be benefitting from the services of one of its top performing advisers were it not for flexible working and the practice has driven the firm to reach a record year.
This is according to the advice firm’s co-managing director Alan Knowles (pictured), who spoke to Health & Protection after CIPD research revealed earlier this week that more than a million UK workers have quit their jobs since the beginning of 2024 due to a lack of flexible working options.
The research reported in Health & Protection‘s sister title Benefits Expert also suggested that pressure to return to the office (RTO) is rising, with 53% of UK employees saying they feel pushed to spend more time in the workplace.
At the same time, 14% of employers said they plan to introduce or increase mandatory office days.
Flexible working is an expectation
But Knowles told Health & Protection that not only is flexible working important, since Covid it is an expectation among advisers and something which the firm is using to its advantage.
“They expect a much greater degree of flexibility than what they had because we all proved it works,” Knowles continued.
“We proved it was possible. We proved that we could be productive working in this way – I think it’s really important.”
Knowles cited the example of one of his leading advisers, who is a mum to a four-year-old boy.
“She was an executive assistant beforehand, so she did PA type work and started advising last year,” he continued.
“One of the reasons why she’s in advice is she was worried about the hours and what would actually be required of her to advise, but she totally flexes her hours now.”
Logging back on at night
Knowles explained this adviser while working in the morning, can take time off in the afternoon and then log back on at night.
“Then equally, some times she’ll want to have a night with him, or is doing something such as his birthday,” Knowles added.
“She will get her hours and do more because she’s working around what she wants to do and what’s important to her.
“She wouldn’t be in that job if we weren’t flexible with it because she’s got a young kid and she’s mum first and employee second – which is what she should be.
“So it’s good for her, it works an absolute treat and she’s absolutely smashing it.”
Being clear about working hours
According to Knowles, this adviser will always make her hours clear to customers.
“She’s got a calendar set up so clients can book their appointments within her hours that she allots whether that’s at night, a morning or whenever she decides that she’s working,” he continued.
“But then she’s also able to have that quality time with the kid as well.
“She proves it works because she’s absolutely smashing it.”
Going for a swim
But it’s also an approach Knowles and his wife Kathryn, who have a young family use themselves.
“Today’s an exception because I’m working with a work experience student at the moment, but we’re both clocking off at 1.30pm most days and going to the gym,” Knowles said.
“We’re either going to the gym or going for a swim.
“And then we’ll log back on once we’ve got the kids or a little bit later on in the night time or log on earlier in the morning.
“We’re still doing our hours and we’re still doing plenty of work, but we’re taking more time for us or with the kids or to look after ourselves.”
Record year
And the result has proven to be a record year where productivity has been better than it has ever been.
“We’re doing more business and we’re just more productive and more efficient,” Knowles added.
“To me that is huge. I would not want to lose a good person just because you want them to work in an office nine to five or you feel that they should.”
