Flexible working as part of Rolls-Royce’s strategy to attract the best talent

As part of its commitment to attracting and retaining the best talent, Rolls-Royce empowers employees to balance their professional and personal lives through flexible working policies. Rolls-Royce believes that flexible working is for everyone – regardless of age, gender, life stage, or personal preference. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution; instead, the company offers a range of options tailored to individual needs, ensuring that every employee can find a working arrangement that suits their lifestyle and responsibilities. 

These flexible options fall into two main categories. Time Flexibility includes a variety of arrangements such as job-sharing, part-time roles, compressed hours, annualised hours, term-time working, varied working hours, self-rostering, and shift swapping. These options allow employees to adapt their work schedules to better align with personal commitments, whether it’s caring for family, pursuing education, or managing other responsibilities. 

Location Flexibility provides employees with the freedom to choose where they work, whether that’s from home, a mobile location, multiple sites, or through remote and agile working arrangements. This flexibility ensures that employees can work in environments where they feel most productive and comfortable, further enhancing their ability to deliver exceptional results. 

By offering such a diverse range of flexible working options, Rolls-Royce not only supports its employees in achieving a healthy work–life balance but also reinforces its reputation as an employer of choice for top talent. This commitment to flexibility is a key part of the company’s strategy to foster innovation, productivity, and long-term success.

The impact of flexible working

Rolls-Royce’s Indianapolis office is a great example of how flexible working can transform workplace culture. Introduced several years ago, the policy has had a profound impact:

• A 10% boost in team and individual morale.
• A 12% rise in employees achieving a better work-life balance.
• A 19% increase in job satisfaction.
• An overall sense of greater productivity and engagement.

Rolls-Royce quotes two of its employees discussing the benefits of flexible working, highlighting how the company’s policies have made a meaningful difference in their lives. Sven Schoenwetter, a Billing Specialist, shared how flexible working allowed him to support his wife during her cancer treatment. He said, “Flexible working helped me support my wife during her cancer treatment. Happily, she has recovered, but I continue to work flexibly, enabling me to volunteer for a global charity.” Similarly, Angelica Walimaki, a Senior Events Marketing Manager (Power Systems), explained how the flexible working model enabled her to balance her career with motherhood. She added, “Thanks to this flexible working model, I adjusted my hours to spend more time with my baby while still returning to work full time.”

Rolls-Royce’s flexible working policies are more than just a perk – they’re a strategic commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive workplace that attracts the best talent.