Flexible hours at Smiths Aerospace

Smiths Aerospace

Private Sector

Location: Cheltenham

No. covered: 1,500

Increase: 2.25%

Length of agreement: 1 year

Date: 1.10.02

Hours: 37

Holidays: 25+8

Greater flexibility for employees and the company was part of the October pay settlement at Smiths in Cheltenham.

The agreement promises support for "sensible" arrangements in the manufacturing and directly related support areas that allow flexible daily start and finish times.

Starting times of between 7-9am are envisaged. Those taking a 30-minute lunch break would be able to finish between 3.30 and 5.30pm (with a one-hour lunch break, 4-6pm).

Employees are expected to work together locally to make the arrangement work. Flexible start and finish times were introduced following a 2.25% October pay settlement.

The package also harmonised holiday arrangements, allowing for holidays to be booked as hours, and 're-balanced' long-service leave.