Flexible working options are essential for people for whom full time employment is not suitable or possible. 

This can be especially important for single parents if you are juggling raising a family alone whilst holding down a job. Some of the options you could consider are:

Temporary work

You could work in a job for a set length of time, usually as part of a particular project or to fill in for a permanent member of staff

Part-time work

A good way to fit work around other responsibilities while getting money and experience

Flexible working

Sometimes employers will agree to flexible working arrangements – this might mean choosing your start and finish times, or working longer hours on some days so you can take more time off

Term-time working

Being off during the school holidays could be ideal if you have children and they are at school

Home working

Manage your own time, especially effective if travelling time complicates things

Holiday working

A practical option if you’re still studying

Job-sharing

Sometimes two people can share a single full-time job – look out for jobs advertised as job shares or, if you want to share a job with someone you know, you could always suggest the idea to your employer

Self-employment

Working for yourself offers flexibility and the right type of challenge for some people, but you will take on extra responsibility – for example, paying your own Income Tax

Voluntary work

Working without pay is one way to get work experience and find out more about an area that interests.

For more information on flexible working see the Government information pages on Flexible Working or you visit the Working Families website which has a range of information from working parents and carers on their employment rights, Tax Credits and in-work benefits, maternity and paternity leave, flexible working options and maternity discrimination.