Employee Stories:

Doug Frame

Father Doug Frame, 54, is a business development manager for IT firm Quorum. He works part-time hours in a hybrid way so he can also spend time with his daughter.

Doug Frame - Quorum
Doug Frame - Quorum

Employee Stories:

Doug Frame

Father Doug Frame, 54, is a business development manager for IT firm Quorum. He works part-time hours in a hybrid way so he can also spend time with his daughter.

What flex do you have?

I work three days a week and I can control when those hours are to suit the business and myself. I have flexibility on location too. I work from home, the office, or client sites.

 

How did this flex come about?

One of Quorum’s directors called me about a role. I used to work very long hours in my previous job and be away three or four nights a week. I was too tired to do anything when I got back. My daughter was growing and changing so fast, and I was missing it all. When I got the call from Quorum I was really honest and said I didn’t want a fulltime role. The response was really positive, they said ‘great, how about part-time?’. It just wasn’t a big issue.

What does this flex allow you to do outside of work?

If I need to go and collect my eight-year-old daughter from school, I won’t think twice about it. On Fridays she finishes at lunchtime and I’ll take her swimming, to McDonalds, or to Waterstones for a look at the books and drink in the café. That’s so much more important to me than my old 5.30am starts from a hotel room in London.

I also have time to do DIY, I enjoy clay pigeon shooting, or just read a book. I love my job. But I want a life outside of work too.

What does your flex mean for your work and home life overall?

Lots of people say you can’t do sales part-time. But I meet my targets, my clients are happy, and I have a much better quality of life. I’m trusted to get my job done the way I think best. It’s not about being in an office 9am to 5.30pm every day, it’s about relationships and doing the right things.

I’m lucky we have a tradition of part-time working at all levels within Quorum. I know that’s not the case everywhere. Our culture means we celebrate success and recognise achievements, and as a result we are more focussed on what colleagues are actually doing, rather than the hours they’re working (or not working).

While working flexibly means that we can prioritise non-work activities when needed, personally I never lose sight of the fact that I have a commitment and responsibility to the company. Flexible working means I can choose the best way of making sure everyone – including me – gets the focus needed.”

“Lots of people say you can’t do sales part-time. But I meet my targets, my clients are happy, and I have a much better quality of life.”

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