Public and Commercial Services Union

PCS reps should be working to encourage good work-life balance practices and to prevent problems occurring.

This requires the dual approach of negotiating good collective provisions and supporting individuals or groups of members who have particular needs.

Local reps are crucial

Local reps can play a crucial role in alerting branch officers to situations that may be causing problems, or in publicising initiatives that are helpful.

Only by building up our knowledge and evidence can we argue for systems that deliver good work-life balance for everyone.

Reps play a key role in promoting the importance of good work-life balance and making sure that members can use family member requires care after an accident).

Reps can guide members

In both situations reps need to know about the statutory and contractual rights and options available, assist the member to think through the pros and cons of the options and guide them through the procedures for putting them in place.

Make sure that the member thinks about how an alternative working pattern would affect their ability to do their work, their health, their other commitments, their income and their career.

Consider short, medium and long term options. If they aren t sure about what would be best, investigate whether they could change their working pattern for a trial period.

There are a number of helplines available for members to access confidential services for advice on stress, health, welfare and other problems.

Check out the members' helplines page.

Keep an eye on employers

Employers must comply with the statutory entitlements and will probably offer contractual rights that are better. Make sure you know about:

• Annual leave entitlement
• Leave entitlements for family and emergency matters
• Learning and study leave
• What working patterns are available at your workplace
• Who is entitled to request flexible working (many employers allow all staff to do this – not just parents and carers)
• What support is available for people with caring responsibilities.

The PCS Work-life Balance course helps reps find out about legal rights on flexible and family-friendly working rights.

It aims to give reps the skills and confidence to help members and to negotiate best practice.