Flexible Working

Flexible working can include part-time working, compressed hours (for example, working full weekly hours over four rather than five days) and working from home ("teleworking"). Staff can discuss the possibility of flexible working with their line manager. 

The department also offers flexible retirement, which is a scheme allowing employees, with departmental approval, to reduce their work and give up part of their salary in exchange for part payment of their pension. Active members of USS or OSPS aged 55 or over with at least two years of qualifying service in the scheme may apply for flexible retirement.

Benefits of flexible retirement can include an improved work-life balance or freeing up time for caring or other responsibilities, without taking the full financial penalty that can come with going part-time or leaving work altogether.

Many of our staff use flexible working patterns, including our joint head of department, Hazel Assender, as well as academics Peter Nellist and Sergio Lozano-Perez, and fellow Rebecca Nicholls, to name just a few. Read about them and others in our staff case studies.