Flexible working is one of the defining professional trends of the 21st century. Since 1999, the number of people flexing their hours has increased five-fold in the UK, according to the Office for National Statistics. But how can employers successfully make this cultural change?

Systematic Print Management

Systematic Print is a great example of a company that has shifted to a flexible working model, to give its team a better work/life balance. And WhosOffice staff management software has helped the firm ensure a smooth transition.

Introducing compressed hours

Like many companies, Systematic relied on paper-based systems to manage its staff leave. But as the firm implemented a new ‘compressed hours’ system, allowing employees to work longer days and take regular time off outside their annual leave entitlement, this approach simply wasn’t sustainable.

"We had an infamous file to capture staff attendance, and there were always bits of paper floating around that needed to be signed off, submitted and added to the diary" Systematic’s Operations Manager, Jacqui Vear, told WhosOffice. "We needed the right people planning software to help our team work flexibly."

"The compressed hours scheme meant we could no longer just book days off for staff; we needed to manage leave on an hourly basis as well, and factor-in flexi time alongside holiday. This just wasn’t viable through paper systems or Excel spreadsheets."

Calculating time off in days AND hours

Systematic contacted WhosOffice to discuss moving to fully digitised leave management software, which could cope with more complex demands than the average holiday booking system.

Our platform enabled the company to coordinate all staff movements, from annual leave and flexi-time, to time off in lieu, sickness and compassionate leave. And we custom-engineered the platform to calculate time off in hours as well as days.

"Launching WhosOffice was a big step-change, but the platform has been really well received by the team," says Jacqui. "Our old system is now an in-joke; it seems crazy that we were using paper to manage staff attendance, considering we’re a progressive, agile company!"

Launching WhosOffice was a big step-change, but the platform has been really well received by the team

Taking all leave management online

In addition to changing the way time off is logged, WhosOffice has made paper forms a thing of the past for Systematic. The company has transitioned all its holiday booking admin online, vastly enhancing internal processes. Plus, the new system allows staff to make and approve leave requests when they’re out in the field, or working from home.

"It’s been a real time liberator, giving us greater contingency and accountability," Jacqui concludes. "Everything is now recorded accurately, date stamped and attributed to people. And the data is secure; I feel a lot happier knowing things are no longer being written down on paper."

To find out more about how Systematic is using WhosOffice, read the full case study.

Or book a free WhosOffice trial to improve the way you manage flexible working.


Read the full Case Study Start Your Free Trial