To stay informed about new openings: Join our talent network
#MyWTW: How I maintain the perfect work-life balance at WTW
Beth Koodish, Business Support Specialist, shares her experience of flexible working at WTW and how it helps her balance full time work while raising her son.
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.
To stay informed about new openings: Join our talent network
#MyWTW: How we manage our job-share role successfully at WTW
Emma Hanson and Katie Phillips, share both their experience, and thoughts on how to work effectively in a job-share role within Talent Acquisition.
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.
To stay informed about new openings: Join our talent network
#WTWLife: Returning To Work After Parental Leave
Donna O’Riordan, Lead Recruiter, London shares her experience of returning to work after a period of parental leave.
As I walk into Willis Towers Watson reception in London on my first day back at work following over a year on maternity leave, my first thought is wow! The building looks great, I feel happy and excited to be back and genuinely feel proud to work here.
Having spoken with many new parents (both in my personal life and with candidates as part of my role) I know that I am very lucky to have had such an incredibly positive experience. My line manager has been very supportive of my flexible working application, which has been significant in enabling me to effectively manage my job and family life. It can be a daunting experience those first few weeks back. What has changed? Will I remember everything? How will I balance my work with a hectic family life? As well as having the great support of my line manager, I spoke with my mentor at Willis Towers Watson who made themselves available to me within those first couple of weeks. I felt I gained advice and reassurance when I most needed it.
I feel valued at Willis Towers Watson and know, with the support of the company, I can still have a successful career while also leading a fulfilling life as a parent.
Learn more about the Willis Towers Watson values and benefits here or take a look at our current roles here.
To stay informed about new openings: Join our talent community
We’re committed to equal employment opportunity, and provide reasonable accommodations to all applicants. If you would like to request any accommodations from application through to interview, please email candidate.helpdesk@willistowerswatson.com