Why Flexibility, Diversity and Delivery Are Shaping the Future of Work

Caroline O'Neill
Oct 2
3 min read

I had the pleasure of attending a powerful event hosted by Timely Careers, Diversity Mark, and Belfast Business Promise. The theme was one every organisation is wanting to learn more about: flexible working.

Businesses want people in the office for connection and collaboration. Employees want the freedom to balance family, caring responsibilities, and wellbeing. Add in the rise of AI reshaping jobs, a stronger focus on diversity and inclusion, and the growing need for mental health support, and it’s clear why flexibility is at the heart of the future of work.

I was at the event as a self employed person wanting to learn more about the options that are out there so I can share it with you. I have a big community of people who follow me who have left work to care for children or elderly parents and feel like they are not able to consider getting back to work.

This event opened my eyes to the opportunities out there and I wanted to share them with you. You never know when it might spark something within you.

Allstate: Meeting Employees Where They Are

Jim Norris, HR Director at Allstate, shared how the company is delivering flexibility at scale for more than 55,000 employees worldwide. Their approach includes duvet days, career breaks, and progressive policies around carers’ leave, fertility treatment, and menopause support.

Technology is central too. By using AI and automation to take care of routine tasks, Allstate empowers people to focus on higher-value work. Combined with proactive coaching and mentoring, it ensures colleagues feel supported, adaptable, and able to grow.

Danske Bank: Listening and Acting on Data

Orla King, Head of Culture and Engagement at Danske Bank, showed how listening to employees and using data can turn flexibility into culture. With an 89% staff survey response rate, Danske knows exactly what employees need. The numbers revealed that 42% of staff are carers, with many supporting more than one person.

This insight led to policies like carers’ leave, holiday buying, and career breaks. Danske also found that people spending more time in the office reported higher engagement. That data shaped their three-day office model, designed not for control but for connection, with coffee mornings, events, and shared experiences making the time meaningful.

Baker McKenzie: Balancing Clients and Families

Daniel Hendry, HR Specialist at Baker McKenzie, explained how the firm supports employees in managing family commitments while continuing to deliver for clients. The average in-office expectation is 2.5 days per week, and small adjustments like flexibility for school runs can make a big impact.

The firm has also introduced buddy systems, regular check-ins, and initiatives around neurodiversity to help employees feel connected and supported. For Baker McKenzie, flexibility is about finding balance that works for both people and clients.

My Takeaway: Flexibility Enables Growth

Across all three organisations, the message was clear. Flexibility isn’t a barrier to career growth, it’s a driver of it. From duvet days to carers’ leave, from buddy systems to anchor days, the examples show that flexibility is less about policy and more about culture, trust, and leadership.

Caroline Murphy, Senior Account Manager at Aiken PR, raised an important point: how do we make sure office days are genuinely engaging, not just laptops and headphones? It’s a question many businesses need to answer if they want hybrid models to truly work.

Final Thoughts

As organisations rethink the future of work, one truth stands out. You cannot improve what you don’t measure, and you cannot succeed if you don’t listen.

Timely Careers and Diversity Mark are leading the way, showing how flexibility, diversity, and delivery go hand in hand to build workplaces where both people and businesses thrive.

As I left the event I was so uplifted and excited to share with you that the world of work has changed - flexible options are there for you you just need to find them.

I am privileged to be working alongside Timely Careers through the Digg Podcast and they can help you seek out the right employer and help you on that journey.