Operational barriers to flexible working

I work in a creative industry and the only area I know we've rejected flexible working applications (in their original form, we've gone back with counter offers) are copywriters as the nature of the work and client base is that it's not workable for one cw to start something and another finish it. We can accommodate part time for a certain number of employees as there's some work that can be fit into that working pattern but job share or going up a level of experience isn't manageable, and hasn't been where it's been trialed in the past or if, for example, someone is off on annual leave that replicates that pattern. However we do counter offer with what is manageable and we allow wfh or staggered start/finish times so it's not an absolute no.

Thanks for sharing Meg. Presumably copywriting could be done at home and a working mum (for example) might be able to fit it around her children?

Great that you counter offer - which shows commitment and a willingness to explore possibilities.

Yes, and we do allow that as far as is possible however it's also a very collaborative role and (again from experience) needs face to face 'creative thinking' time.

Presumably some of the creative thinking time can take place over Skype or other virtual meeting arrangement Meg?

Presumably some of the creative thinking time can take place over Skype or other virtual meeting arrangement Meg?