What it is and why it's important
Security includes work and income security in relation to hours and earnings. Flexibility includes affording workers the opportunity to work flexibly to remove barriers and secure a good work-life balance. This means avoiding the unfair use of non-guaranteed hours contracts and looking creatively at job design.
An important element of Fair Work is ensuring that opportunities to access work are open to all, without barriers, and that the roles you provide offer as much security as possible for your employees.
To get the best from your employees, allowing them the flexibility to accommodate their work within the reality of their daily lives is essential, particularly in today’s challenging recruitment climate. And to be recognised as a Fair Work employer, you should always be fair and transparent with your staff about the requirements and expectations of each role.
How can introduce flexible working in a way the benefits everyone?
With people looking to work more flexibly, Laura Fordham, Commercial Director at FairPlay Employer, discusses how businesses can combine the need to provide its workforce with work and income opportunities, but also maintain flexibility to secure a good work-life balance.
How can you use flexibility to promote inclusivity?
Laura Fordham, Commercial Director at FairPlay Employer, talks about how businesses can use flexibility in job design, working hours and remote working to promote inclusion and better work-life balance without compromising business needs.
What is false self-employment and what risks to they pose?
Laura Fordham, Commercial Director at FairPlay Employer, shares her thoughts on false self-employment and how businesses can protect themselves against it to ensure that employees are not exploited.
How can you ensure working patterns are inclusive.
With people often needing to work on a different schedule, Laura Fordham, Commercial Director at FairPlay Employer, talks about how businesses can ensure they are inclusive when employees are offered the opportunity for additional working hours, and how they can accommodate the reality of personal lives within those work patterns.
How do you make sure policies are implemented effectively?
Within a disciplinary and dismissal process, Laura Fordham, Commercial Director at FairPlay Employer, highlights how businesses can ensure that policies are embedded within an organisation and implemented effectively. Especially when dealing with unexpected and difficult situations.
How can you ensure remote workers aren’t at a disadvantage?
As more businesses move towards a flexible or hybrid method of working, Laura Fordham, Commercial Director at FairPlay Employer, discusses how business owners can ensure that remote workers aren’t placed at a disadvantage.
How should employers beginning their journey towards fair work prioritise secure and flexible working?
Laura Fordham, Commercial Director at Chwarae Teg, emphasises that secure and flexible working is part of a broader approach to fair work. Laura discuses how key priorities such as establishing clear policies, promoting transparency and providing training/support is the way ensure a fair and inclusive workplace.
What the experts say
Business Wales have worked with industry experts on each of the six themes identified for SMEs to understand and work effectively within the Fair Work principles.
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Resource Pack
Download the Security & Flexibility resource pack that will support you to make changes to your business to become a Fair Work employer.
If you need a more accessible version of this document please email businesssupport@gov.wales. Please tell us the format you need. If you use assistive technology please tell us what this is.