Flexible work schedules are gaining popularity in the modern workplace—recent research showed that job sharing is a crucial facilitator of flexible work arrangements.
Vicky and Emily are the GCHQ’s deputy directors of counter-terrorism, one of the first job-sharing arrangements at such a top-level operational intelligence. With MI5 and the Secret Intelligence Service, GCHQ combats terrorism, cyberattacks, severe crime, and espionage. They use advanced analytics to support military operations and assist the government in responding to evolving geopolitical conditions to lessen the domestic terror threat. They have almost 30 years of combined national security and intelligence collecting expertise. The co-chief executives of GCHQ meet with senior management to review “threats posed by terrorism, operational challenges, partnership possibilities and risk, and the wellbeing of their staff.”
According to official statistics, there were 122,000 people on job-sharing contracts in the United Kingdom in 2021, a modest rise from the 119,000 in 2020. Most job sharing was performed by female educators and health and social care professionals. However, there is a considerable demand from employees for more flexibility, and the employment market is tilting towards qualified experts.
