Heather Hambrick, Director, shares how flexible working allows her to balance both her job at WTW and an external PhD program in Healthcare Administration.

Our lives are made up of so many different priorities. These are ever-changing, so flexible working empowers the ability to shift in a dynamic environment. Working remotely for WTW enables me to save two hours travel time every day, meaning I am able to do more of the things I love, such as spending quality time with my spouse, looking after my cats and cooking!

Shortly before joining WTW, in my own time, I began an accelerated PhD program in Healthcare Administration. I will graduate with my Doctorate in Healthcare Administration this August and look forward to what this can do for my work at WTW.

I really appreciate having the flexibility of working from home, so that I don’t have to lose any study time to commuting to and from work. I am able to shift from my early morning schoolwork seamlessly into my workday at WTW and continue studying in the evenings.

I cannot express how grateful I am to find such a supportive company environment that enables this success!

Angela Hillier, Account Manager, shares the significant impact that flexible working has had on her everyday life.

The flexible working arrangements at WTW have been life-changing for me.

Previously, my daily commute totalled three hours and I never had time to go to exercise classes as they didn’t fit in around my travel to and from work. Now, without this commute, I can easily fit in pilates classes three times a week and start my day positively before working remotely.

This arrangement has also enabled me to finish work early once a week and pick up my grandson from day care, which is a very precious time for me. The time saved by not commuting every day is so much better spent walking the dogs, getting my domestic chores done and improving my work-life balance. Thank you WTW!

Esra Kennedy, Team Administrator, shares her story about hybrid working at WTW and how it has allowed her to spend more time with her family.

My current WTW Work Flex style is hybrid. Some of the benefits I enjoy most about this arrangement are that I can spend more time with family, do more activities in the evenings, and save money on petrol and car maintenance. I tend to go into the office at least once a week, but this can vary depending on the business need and what I have scheduled in my diary that week. I appreciate this as going into the office breaks the week up and it is nice to catch up in person with colleagues, especially ones I don’t work closely with day to day.

If a hybrid working style wasn’t made available to me, I would not have been able to properly care for my dog. Hybrid working allows me to be at home to walk her and keep her company if I can’t arrange dog care. Additionally, I don’t have to worry about a long commute every day which I really appreciate.

As we grow in life and go through different stages, it is so rewarding to work for a company that grows with me; from being in the office full-time, to remote working and looking after my child, and then to hybrid working and having the perfect balance of home and office environments!

When I started at WTW, I was single and worked full-time in the office. I then got married, had a child and I was a bit concerned with how I was going to balance working in an office full-time and being a mom. A question I asked myself was, ‘Do I continue working or quit the job to raise my son?’ Thankfully, this wasn’t as decision I had to make as my team at WTW was supportive and helped me balance my work and personal life. Being a Business Support Specialist, WTW provided me with the necessary technical equipment and support which gave me the flexibility that I needed to work remotely and be at home with my son.

As my son got older, flexible working became even more important because I needed to be there for him on certain occasions, whether at school or at his myriad of sports games. Time flies, so I didn’t want to miss out on any of the special moments in his life. The most important thing in my life is family, and I believe it should come above all else. It’s critical, therefore, that my manager knows that which has been my experience at WTW.

When COVID hit, and schools were no longer in-person, there was no change to my work set up as I was already remote, so this was really beneficial for me. I was able to continue working comfortably, the same as I had been before the pandemic. Now that my WTW Work Flex is hybrid, and our offices are starting to open back up, I cherish seeing my colleagues in person and really enjoy going in. What I appreciate the most is that I am able to see what my diary is looking like, how busy I am that week then decide when works best for me to go into the office.

I feel very fortunate to work for an amazing company with such high regard for its colleagues’ work and personal lives. WTW has always provided me with the flexibility and tools I need to succeed in both and for that, I am very grateful.

Tell us a little bit about you and your role at WTW.  

Emma: I joined WTW in June this year. Prior to this role, I worked in HR at Emirates in Dubai UAE. I was an expat for over 11 years before we relocated back to England in 2019, then Covid hit! Katie and I work in Talent Acquisition where we share a role as a Recruiter, focusing on the Corporate segment of the business.

Katie: I have been with WTW for almost 7 years. My fist role with the company was as a Recruiter for our Technology and Administration Solutions line of business which I did for five years. I then had an extended maternity leave break for 13 months and after having my baby, I decided I wanted more of a balance between being a mum and still continuing with my career. I spoke with my line manager and HR partner who fully supported my desire to return to work part time and it was then that the job share arrangement came to fruition.

How does this job-share work for you? 

Emma: I currently work three days a week; Monday, Tuesday, and Friday

Katie: I work the other two days of the week: Wednesdays and Thursdays. This ensures that the full week is covered for our clients and stakeholders.

What is your current WTW Work Flex? (Remote, hybrid or in-office) How does this work for you? 

Emma: We are very much hybrid, which I absolutely love. I usually work from home, but sometimes go into the office if something must be done in person, if myself and Katie have scheduled cross-over days booked in, or if I just fancy a change of scenery. I love the flexibility at WTW and being able to manage my own time and workload effectively.

Katie: I usually work one day at home and the other in the office as I enjoy the combination of both. It is great to be able to go into the office and have that face-to-face interaction with colleagues and stakeholders.

What does the flexibility of job sharing allow you to do, that you wouldn’t be able to do if you worked full time?

Emma: I have a very busy family, with two young boys, working three days a week gives me the ability (mentally and physically) to still be focussed on them while they are still young, but also still have a career in an area that I love. I get the best of both worlds. Working part time also allows me to do lots of volunteering at my children’s school which I’m very passionate about.

Katie:  Working as part of a job share allows me to spend time quality time with my young son, but also continue in a career that I thoroughly enjoy. On my days off, I am able to take my son to toddler classes and spend time with other parents, which I feel is so key for both my son’s development and my own journey and development as a first-time parent. It is a fantastic mix of work and family life.

How do you ensure your tasks are done effectively?

Emma: Communication is absolutely key. Our managers and clients shouldn’t notice a difference dealing with either one of us; hopefully being on the same page at all times. We religiously do a handover to each other to ensure were both up to speed with projects as things progress.

Katie: Along with our regular handovers, we also ensure that we are both copied in on all emails so that we are both kept in the loop and there is no duplication of tasks.

How do you feel working at a company, that has enabled you to split your job role and responsibilities with another colleague?

Emma: I have strong views about flexibility in the workplace and the positive benefits that it brings. I was very happy to see such an excellent company and role aligned to this. With a job share partner, it gives great peace of mind to know that work is being taken care of on the days you’re not working.

Katie: I feel so grateful to have been given the opportunity to continue my career on a part-time basis, within a company that I really enjoy working for. It shows that WTW is an advocate for flexible working, which I feel is so important in an ever-changing and evolving employment market.

What made you decide to apply to WTW?

My time at sixth form was cut short due to the pandemic, and I didn’t like the idea of not getting the full university experience. Rather than having to study from home for the whole of first year, I decided to look into other opportunities such as apprenticeships. I was fascinated by the fact that I could work in a professional environment, while also studying towards a qualification that directly supports my role.

After looking at various apprenticeship opportunities, I found WTW. It was a company that really stood out to me due to its wide range of business functions and high calibre of clients.

How did you feel when starting your role at WTW?

I was very nervous when I started my role at WTW, however during my first week, I met my manager and new team in person and had the opportunity to get to know everyone. It was also a huge help that on my third day, my department held their ‘Summer Social in September’, where I got the chance to meet many more colleagues face-to-face in a very relaxed environment. It was a great way to settle into the company and everyone around me was quick to help if I had any questions or concerns.

What is your current work style?

My current work style is hybrid. This means that my typical work week involves working from the office as well as at home. I have the flexibility to visit the office some weeks more than others, depending on my schedule. As an apprentice that is also studying for my qualifications where my lessons and examinations are all remote, working from home allows me to maximise my study time.

What do you enjoy most about working at WTW?

One of my favourite things about working at WTW is the opportunity I’ve had to meet and learn from experienced professionals within the industry.
WTW has many initiatives to support colleagues’ continuous professional development, especially people that are just starting out in their careers. For example, I am currently on the WTW Mentorship Programme, which is helping me learn and grow both personally and professionally. Since starting the programme, I have been paired with my mentor, Kirstie, and this has provided me with the chance to work alongside an experienced professional and benefit from an honest and unbiased opinion outside of the department I work in. I really appreciate the guidance I have received from Kirstie and her mentorship has been a great way for me to develop.
Additionally, my department (Financial Solutions) has developed their own new programme called the FS Development Coach Programme where people can choose a development coach and organise meetings and coffee catch ups with.
Another great aspect of working at WTW is the office views. I work in the London office that has 23 floors. On floor 23 there are only meeting rooms, so when clients visit, it is great to book a meeting room where you can see a beautiful view of London.

What is the biggest challenge you have overcome since working with WTW?

The biggest challenge I have had to come since working with WTW is public speaking. Working in a role where my manager and I regularly visit insurers at their office, it is important to make sure that any feedback, points of discussion and possible concerns are clearly communicated so that we can develop and increase our working partnership. Working with my manager on developing my own speaking style and learning more about what makes an effective presentation and conversation, I have become a lot more confident.

What piece of advice would you give to someone who is looking to start their career at WTW?

Have a look at the lines of business that WTW are involved in. WTW hires across Property and Casualty, Marine, Financial solutions and many more, have a look at what each area of the business is involved in, their clients and their people. With this, you can begin to see what interests you and go from there. WTW has some great articles on what each area of business is doing, changes within the industry and leadership pieces. These articles may also have the author’s name and email address, so you are able to reach out and ask questions.