Flexee

Shout out to Flexee Accredited practice, Edhen Veterinary Surgery. We are delighted to have awarded them Gold accreditation this month. As a practice they actively embrace flexible working and this can be seen across all teams.

Are you looking for a job? They’re currently hiring a veterinary surgeon. As found in the ad “Each of our vets has an individually tailored rota designed around their lifestyle and commitments”.
https://jobs.vettimes.com/job/140747/small-animal-veterinary-surgeon/?LinkSource=PremiumListing -description
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Want to accredit your practice? Want to retain better and recruit faster? Link in our bio.

Did you know we all have a day-one right to request flexible working?

Changes to flexible working laws were introduced in April 2024 meaning that all UK employees have the right to request flexible working.

Notice I said request?

Understandably, it doesn’t mean we can all go demanding half-day Fridays and long lunchbreaks.

But,
it does mean that from day-dot at the company, employees can submit requests, and
these must be considered.

Even more interesting is that employees don’t have to give a reason for the request.
Previously the law was designed with parents and carers in mind, but the law
changes reflect the recent shift in priorities surround work-life balance.

In a 2021
BVA survey 56% of you wanted more time for leisure activities,
50% of you wanted more time for lifestyle needs,
28% of you wanted more time for caregiving responsibilities,
28% of you wanted more time for your health and
22% of you wanted more time to learn.

That’s a whole lot of demands to juggle, but fear not,
Flexee’s got your back.

What do your ideal hours look like?

myflexee.com

Have you ever tried managing a multi-cat household?

It’s not easy, trust us.

Every cat has their needs and no two are the same. If it’s not different foods, it’s different perches and if it’s not personal space, it’s a water fountain. Haters will say they’re high maintenance, cats just say they have standards.

Our Friend of Flexee,
Robin Hargreaves is a flexible working convert.

Once a sceptic, he came to understand the importance of flexibility after witnessing practice environments that, he says, were like multi-cat households.

Fielding multiple requests from employees can be every employer’s worst nightmare.
Understandably, 54% of you voted rota complexity to be the greatest barrier to flexible working but evidently, flexible working requests aren’t going away, and we
should expect more.

So, let’s be ready for them.

Fortunately, our team at Flexee are well-acquainted with these legal changes and adept at ironing out the creases in the rota.

Learn more at myflexee.com

When digesting the stats on changes to our veterinary workforce over the years, it
might be weird to say it feels slightly reassuring. Not reassuring because there’s
hardly enough staff, but because it’s proof of what we already suspected. We’re not
imagining it, there really is a decrease in staff at a time when workload is at an all-
time high.

In 2021 the RCVS reported a clear increasing trend for veterinary surgeons working
part-time. Now, this isn’t just because of the increasing in proportion of women in the
workforce, interestingly, the proportion of men working part-time has also gone up by
10%. You’d be forgiven for thinking that childcare commitments are the biggest pull
to flexible work but time for leisure activities was found to be the most common
reason.

Widening opportunities for vets in other sectors has also increased the incentive to
jump ship. So, it’s time we listened to what our workforce wants-flexibility. Flexible
working arrangements, when implemented appropriately, are one of the safest
investments to retain better and and recruit faster.

Flexee is the consultant you need to safely plug the sink hole and turn on the taps.

myflexee.com < To learn more

When the sun shines, what floats your boat?

In my 20s I loved nothing more than basking in the sun, with a good book by the pool, like a lizard.

In my 30s, my outlook has changed somewhat. Nothing thrills me more than line dried washing. The most accessible of solar power; its green, it’s cost effective and it smells like angels.

What fills your cup at different stages of your life changes and that’s ok. The same is true for flexible working, you’re requirements constantly evolve.

Did you know that as of 6th April 2024 you can now make 2 flexible working requests in a 12 month period (previously you could just make one). So if the way you’re working at the moment is leaving you feeling more frazzles than fuzzies, mix it up. You can always change it again if it doesn’t work.

You never know, you might even find a little time to read a book in the sun (or hang the washing out)

May Edition of The Flexologist is Here! 🌞

We’re diving into Mental Health Awareness Week 2024 and exploring “A New Pandemic: The Great Resignation.” Discover how flexible working can revolutionize the veterinary industry and improve work-life balance.

Read the latest edition now: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7123284450372669440

Annualised hours: This is where an employee works a certain number of hours over the course of a year, but these will typically vary week by week or month by month.

Not sure which kind of flexible working would suit you best? Comment flex below and we’ll send you a link to our fun quiz to help you

Personalised hours: Each employee has different start, finish and break times from other workers. If more than 50% of employees work in a non standard way, then this is considered to be a “jigsaw practice”.

Which kind of flexible working would suit you best? Comment flex below and we’ll send you a link to our fun quiz to help you

In our journey as vets, we often prioritize learning theory and mastering best practices in our field. 📚💉

Yet, let's not overlook the lessons that come from our mistakes. 🤔💡

Consider this: when we stumble, we're prompted to reflect on what went awry and how we can grow from it. This process of self-reflection and growth is invaluable for our personal and professional advancement. 🌱💼

Moreover, making mistakes deepens our comprehension of the subject matter. 🧠💡

While theory and best practices are crucial, true understanding often comes from hands-on experience and learning from our missteps. So, embrace flexibility in your approach, as it offers opportunities for growth and a richer understanding of veterinary practice. 🐾✨