At Clinco, all staff are fully employed and office-based.  We believe this leads to consistency and quality from a fully integrated and supported team – all essential when providing complex professional services such as the analysis of medical records.  Highly motivated and dedicated as our staff are, all have busy lives outside the workplace.  Clinco needs full focus and productivity during working hours, but has always recognised the work life balance as vital.  We depend on our staff and want them to feel they can control their time to meet the needs of their families and themselves.

By the time the Flexible Working Regulations came into force in June 2014, Clinco had already been successfully operating a fully flexible workplace for over five years.  Employees here do not need to request flexible working – it’s embedded in our working practices.  No one can be late for work at Clinco – it’s not a concept we use.  No one ever misses a school event during the working day or needs to worry about appointment times.  Unexpected crises at home are managed without the additional stress of placating a manager or asking for a favour. Our team self-record their hours and repay that trust with loyalty.  Our system works by creating a productive team of employees who stay with us.

Louise Borda, Associate Caseworker at Clinco, is a good example.  Louise, formerly a Coroner’s Officer, was used to an intense workplace with long, inflexible hours.  At Clinco, she can use her talents and pace but tailor her time to suit her needs.  It’s immensely rewarding as an employer to hear her say how much she appreciates this:

“Working at Clinco has changed my work/life balance significantly; from being able to attend school events to just being able to pick my sons up from school – this has led to a happier mum and happier children! I believe Clinco are strides ahead in terms of flexible working and I’m so grateful for having been given the opportunity to work with the team here”

We’d like to go further by de-regulation of holiday time and introduction of sabbaticals.  For any existing Clinco employees reading this, put your ideas to me and we will take a serious look at them.  If you are a medical lawyer or experienced nurse collator, and want the benefits of employment but the lifestyle of a self-employed worker, then send me your CV at sarahwallace@clinco.co.uk.