Making flexible working a family affair

At McDonald’s, we recently launched the Family Contract – a flexible working arrangement that helps our diverse range of employees juggle their busy lives. It enables two people from the same family, who work in the same McDonald's restaurant, to cover each other's shifts - with no prior notice. 

Pairs made up of married couples, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, step-families, adopted families, cohabiting partners and same-sex partners are all eligible to apply for the contract. It’s designed to benefit, amongst others, busy mums juggling childcare and work, students with last-minute deadlines and people who care for a parent or relative.

By giving our employees the freedom to manage their shift commitments, I believe we will increase their engagement and enjoyment of work. That is fundamental to our business because it is a simple fact that happy employees mean happy customers.

We believe the Family Contract is a UK first that has the potential to redefine flexible working.  Those who participated in our highly successful pilot have taken advantage of the freedom it offers for all kinds of reasons, from visiting family in hospital to putting the finishing touches to an important essay.  As a result of its success we’re currently undertaking a review of the arrangement.  Once this is completed, we may even look to extend the Family Contract beyond the family to include friends and extended family members such as cousins.

I would be interested to hear about other innovative ideas or schemes that organisations have developed to encourage truly flexible working?

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