Flexible Employment Options (FEO)

Question 1

Who can work FEO?

Answer 1

• Any Police Employee can apply to vary or alter their hours, days or place of work in their current role
  Note: Employment Relations Act 2000, S. 6AA

Question 2

Why flexible working is important to Police?

Answer 2

• New Zealand Police is committed to offering the BEST ENVIRONMENT to enable our people to perform to their full potential.

Question 3

Benefits of Flexible Working?

Answer 3

• Enabling High Performance: High performing organisation’s are dynamic, agile and diverse.
• Attracting and retaining TOP TALENT: When circumstances change for our employees - flexible working options allow them to work in Roles and Leadership levels where they can reach their full potential.
• Accessing a broader talent pool: Offering flexible options means that roles are attractive to a wider range of people.
• Increased productivity: People who work flexibly not only have a greater work/life balance, it is also common for them to manage their time effectively, increasing individual and team productivity.

Question 4

What is flexible working?

Answer 4

• The Employment Relations Act provides all employees with a Statutory Right to request a variation to their work arrangements.
• Flexible Employment Options can be any non-usual working arrangement, including changes to hours or days worked, and working from alternative locations.

Question 5

What are some of the common options for flexible working?

Answer 5

• Working from home or an alternative location
• Flexi-time: This allows the employee to work a set number of hours a week that can be varied from week to week
• Part-time: This could mean working only on certain days, or working fewer hours each day
• Condensed hours: This means working full time hours but condensing those hours into a shorter week.

Question 6

Does FEO need to work for both the individual and the organisation?

Answer 6

• FEO is a two-way street and discussing an application together can help identify how a flexible option can work for both the individual and the organization.

Question 7

How do I lead FEO in Police?

Answer 7

• Talk about FEO with your team: this can be in your monthly conversations and/or part of your team culture sessions.
• FEO on the agenda: at all leadership discussions.
• Educate: help others with their understanding of FEO. Explaining how being FLEXIBLE-BY-DEFAULT will enable Police to achieve Our Business.
• Advocate: consider opportunities and celebrate success stories.
• Challenge: if you hear or see behaviour that does not align with our values or the positive culture we are promoting with flexible working - CALL IT OUT!
• Role model: be mindful of the standards and expectations you are setting for your team.

Question 8

Manager responsibilities with FEO?

Answer 8

• As a Manager - you have a duty to consider any requests for FEO.
• With the Police default setting as ‘yes’ it is key to approach the request with ‘how can we make this work?’

Question 9

Who can DECLINE an FEO Application?

Answer 9

• Only the District Commander or National Manager can decline an FEO application.