The benefits of flexible working are clear. It helps employees balance their work and home lives, leading to greater productivity, improved employee retention, and higher morale. However, while some companies are beginning to offer flexible working arrangements as an employee benefit, many still resist or ignore the need for change.
Many organisations still view flexible working as “something for women” or encouraging people to slack off at work (even though studies have shown no link between productivity and time spent in the office). And many employers with flexible working policies still offer them only to women returning from maternity leave, not to help workers better manage their lives outside the workplace.
While many employees are seeking this type of flexibility, many businesses remain reluctant to adopt it. But why? And what steps can we take to welcome this conversation?
In today’s episode, we are joined by Ursula Tanvender, the joint CEO at Flexpo. Flexpo is a company on a mission to change the world of work for everyone by making flexible working easier for organisations, people leaders, and teams, so that one day, no one will be excluded from career opportunities because of a lack of flexibility.
We are chatting about why Ursula is so passionate about flexible working, working in a job share as a joint CEO, and her entrepreneurial journey to date.
Key Highlights
[02:39] Introducing Ursula Tanvender
[03:10] An overview of Flexpo
[07:14] How people’s perception of flexible working has changed post-pandemic
[10:23] When did Ursula become so passionate about flexible working?
[15:37] Quitting the corporate world for good
[16:27] Starting a blog and changing the conversation around flexible working.
[19:35] Meeting her soulmate, merging their businesses, and dealing with the challenges that came as a result
[21:25] Did merging the business mean relinquishing control?
[23:00] How to split a joint CEO role
[24:45] The importance of having face-to-face time in an organization
[27:15] Opting for childcare over “self-employed” maternity leave
[29:00] Managing your business time while parenting
[31:18] Working on self-care amid challenges
[34:16] The long process of recovery
[37:27] How important is therapy?
[38:21] How to support a friend who’s going through a trauma
[44:42] How people’s perspective has changed around living life to the fullest
[45:58] How to connect with Ursula
Notable Quotes
● Flexible working means something different to everyone. And what works for someone might not work for someone else.
● The data shows that, gradually, more jobs are being advertised with either a flexible job design or the possibility of a conversation about flexible working (even though it’s far short of what we need).
● If you change how the organisation works, people won’t struggle as much. They’re struggling behind the scenes.
● There are millions of people in this country who, if they had access to the flexibility needed in a role, would not be underemployed anymore.
● Any minor challenges that we experience, we resolve very, very quickly because we’re so aligned in where we’re going.
● Sometimes, when it’s just you making the decisions because the people you might be working with are not on the same level as you, it could be lonely.
● Our communication is fast and furious. So we communicate all day, every day.
● Looking back on it, that was hard because the business was in its infancy, and the consultancy business was in its infancy. And I did not feel like I could take maternity leave.
● I think maternity leave is so important, but you don’t have the luxury of maternity leave when self-employed.
● I find restorative things are time with the people I love.
● I think everybody could benefit from counselling. I’ve seen lives saved as a result of it.
● I always try and believe that everyone’s doing their best, but because they don’t say anything, I feel abandoned. And I understand entirely why people disappear when hard things are happening.
● We need to get a bit more comfortable with being vulnerable.
● It’s lovely to just engage in normal life when life for you is not normal.
● Every time I’ve experienced something really painful and challenging in my family, I can see life in more colour.
Resources
Learn more about Ursula Tavender and connect with her on LinkedIn.
Learn more about Flexpo.
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This episode is kindly sponsored by Rebel Law – an Employment Law firm run by a fellow mum, who is on your side. Rebel Law sorts out employment disputes so that everybody can breathe a sigh of relief. So, if you are facing a situation that concerns you at work or have questions about your employment, visit Rebel Law’s website to discover how they can help you.