Work life balance is about adjusting working styles so that everyone, regardless of circumstances can find a rhythm that enables them to combine work with other responsibilities or aspirations, like community work, developing a sport of hobby or studying for a qualification. The Council positively encourages flexible work styles for the benefit of the employee, the service and the organisation.

Examples of work/life balance that graduates have arranged:

• A 9-day fortnight. Your contract will be to work 37 hours a week. A 9-day fortnight is where you condense two weeks worth of hours into 9 days providing you with 1 day every fortnight off.
  
• The Council put together a makeshift rowing team for the summer rowing race. Because of the flexible working policy it was possible to take 2-hour lunch breaks twice a week and make up the hours around that.
  
• Working a long distance from work can cause harm to the environment, means you have to travel a long time either way to work and day in day out be a drag. Working at home is an option that many employees take. With agreement from their line managers they negotiate certain days when they are able to work at home or from a Council work place closer to home.