Forth Valley College is set to roll out two pilot initiatives during the current lockdown to help boost the health and wellbeing of its 650 staff.
Over the next four weeks a Weekly Re-charge will allow staff to take up to a 10% reduction in their working hours to help with work-life balance and boost wellbeing, and a proposed daily Time 4 You two hour lunch-time slot (12-2pm) will enable staff to clear all meetings and calls from their diary to enjoy their lunchbreak and also have some time to work without disruptions.
Senior management have been inspired by a number of organisations across the world who have implemented a shorter working week in recent years, in order to help with work-life balance and boost wellbeing, which recently has been even more affected due to the pandemic.
The initiatives will be launched on Monday 18 January 2021 and will run up until Friday 12 February 2021 and the start of the half term holiday, when they will be reviewed. They will be applicable to all staff across the organisation.
Questions and feedback from staff are being encouraged throughout.
Dr Ken Thomson OBE, Principal for Forth Valley College, said: “The ongoing situation due to the current health crisis and a newly imposed lockdown, have resulted in additional pressures for many of us. Forth Valley College recognise this and have taken the decision to implement these ground-breaking initiatives to try to help our staff cope with the continuing lockdown restrictions which are needed across our country at this time.
“The Weekly Re-charge and Time 4 You, are designed to make things a little easier as most staff work from home over the next few weeks. We are only too well aware of the efforts our employees have put in over the last 10 months. We hope these new working arrangements will help us all re-charge and prepare us to navigate our way through this critical period which the entire country is facing right now.
“We want our staff to know that whether they are finding it difficult to find a work-life balance or are just feeling overwhelmed in general, we are supporting them and want them to recognise the importance of looking after their wellbeing and are encouraging them to take time to de-stress.
“As an organisation, we want to offer as much help and support as we can during these challenging circumstances."