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Growing numbers of Tetra Pak personnel around the world are benefiting from flexible working arrangements (FWA). This is part of an ongoing initiative aimed at giving employees more say in where, when and how they work while continuing to meet the needs of our business.
By the end of 2019, there were FWA policies in place in all countries with more than 50 employees, nearly double the previous total. There are a number of different arrangements available – including flexible hours, remote working, sabbaticals and family leave – all covered by a global framework that sets KPIs and provides clear guidance for managers and teams on implementation. Over half of eligible employees requested FWA that year, and overall feedback was very positive.
Irina Bogush of the Customer Service & Design team is based in Germany and regularly takes advantage of the opportunity to work from home. "It gives more flexibility and balance in work and private life," she says. "It also positively impacts productivity and increases commitment to our company."
In Thailand, Cluster Services Solution Manager Hassaya Bumrungkit uses flexible hours to help cut travel time to and from work. "Official office hours are 8am to 5pm, but I work 7am to 4pm," she says. "I save at least one to one-and-a-half hours on the road. That also saves my stress!"
Other benefits cited include being better able to juggle family and childcare responsibilities and having the opportunity to bond with a new baby by taking extended paternity leave. Employees are also finding ways to mitigate the potential downsides of working in isolation.
Donna Munro and Helene Hornby, both Project Coordinators in the Finance and Business Transformation team, based in the UK, regularly work together in each others' homes. "We have weekly video meetings with our manager," says Donna, "and team video breakfasts."
Further plans include rolling out FWA to more countries and exploring other options, including compressed work weeks and job sharing. A flexible approach is key to staying competitive, attracting and retaining employees, and is vital to creating an even more balanced, diverse and inclusive organisation.