Carla's flexible working story

Flexible working has transformed the way we live and work, giving us the freedom and balance we've all been craving. It lets people tailor their schedules to fit their unique lifestyles, working how and where they want. To find out more about the impact of remote and flexible work arrangements, we're sharing real success stories from those who have experienced the benefits firsthand.

Name:  Carla Pianese

Job role: Senior Project Manager

What’s your flexible working set up? Fully remote

1. How has flexible working improved your productivity and job satisfaction?

Flexible working has significantly boosted both my productivity and job satisfaction in different ways. In terms of increased productivity, here’s what improved:

1. No Commute: Saved time, allowing for more focused work.
2. Flexible Hours: Enabled working by objectives and OKRs, instead of the classic 9-5
3. Better Work-Life Balance: Reduces stress, leading to more efficient work.

In terms of job satisfaction, here is what was enhanced:

1. Greater Autonomy: More control over schedules and work settings.
2. Improved Work-Life Balance: Easier to manage personal and professional responsibilities.
3. Reduced Stress: Less stress from commuting and rigid schedules.
4. Higher Engagement: Increased feeling of being trusted and valued.

2. Can you share specific examples of how flexible working has made it easier to manage your personal and professional responsibilities?

One personal example that has happened recently: when my mother was hospitalised last February, I flew there the day after and worked out my schedule in a way that allowed me to concentrate more hours in the afternoon and evening, while in the morning I was supporting the rest of my family and going to the hospital at visit’s times. That was very convenient because I did continue to work remotely, ensuring that I stayed  on top of professional responsibilities without needing to take additional time off.

3. Have you experienced any challenges or obstacles related to flexible working, and if so, how have you overcome them?

Yes, sometimes it’s difficult to balance work and life, especially if I’m working from home. At home you can have all sorts of distractions, from loud surroundings (e.g. restaurants or shops in the town centre), home maintenance or repair activities, children needing attention, spouses or partners interrupting for conversation or help, pets seeking attention are just some of them. I overcome them by having a clear day and weekly schedule based on my monthly objectives and I simply keep track on them with my google calendar. If things don’t work out, I can be flexible and move things around based on priorities but I try to stick to it. The key is to be accountable to ourselves and very organised. For me it works very well, and it helps me support my family so my work schedule works around my lifestyle and not vice versa. 

4. How do you think flexible working has contributed to your career growth and development?

When I have a migraine attack unfortunately there isn’t very much I can do, just alert my team, delegate and rework priorities before I take some time off to recover. On the other hand, with simpler medical condition, such as PMS, working from home or from a cosy place, helps me mitigate the pain, allows me to manage my condition better by aligning work with my energy levels and medication schedules.

5. Is your company supportive of you working flexibly? Are there any policies they have in place that have helped you?

Flexible working has significantly contributed to my career growth and development by:

1. Work-Life Balance: Better balance has led to increased job satisfaction and reduced burnout, enabling sustained professional growth and it also allowed me to travel and move to another country.
2. Skill Development: Managing my time and work environment has improved my self-discipline and organisational skills.
3. Side Hustle: flexible time allowed me to test and use my passion to cultivate a side hustle, from content writing to marketing and hospitality.
4. Learning Opportunities: Flexibility has allowed me to take online courses and attend virtual conferences, expanding my knowledge and skills.
   

6. Is your company supportive of you working flexibly? Are there any policies they have in place that have helped you?

Yes, since 2015 I have chosen only hybrid or fully remote companies with dedicated remote work policies or flexible hours in places. One policy that helped me was one on health and wellness and the async communication documentation, so my expectation where clear on how to communicate, when to deliver and how share results and that is the cornerstone of a company’s operations to allow effective flexible work and align the whole team towards shared objectives – even at different timezones.

Share your flexible working story with us! 

We want to hear how flexible working has transformed your life. Tell us about the challenges you've overcome, the benefits you've enjoyed, and the impact it has had on your daily routine. Your insights can inspire others on their journey towards a more flexible and fulfilling work life. If you're interested, you can answer our quick survey here, and we'll get back to you to learn more about your experience.