Work life balance is not great. You have to work 2 Saturdays a month (in my branch) which is difficult, especially when it is busy. It feels like you do not get a real break from work as you are back in a day and a half later. They say it’s only 3 hours, but that doesn’t take into account waking up, commuting etc. Also, planning holidays with friends and family, you are always anxious to get that Saturday booked off before anyone else does, if not, tough luck you can’t go. Also, the commercial team no longer have to work Saturdays (which makes sense as not busy at all for them on weekends), but still get equal amount of holiday and same pay. This is not the problem. Personal lines team work 72 hours extra a year, with no improvement in holiday allowance or pay. It is very difficult to book holiday with friends/family when you work Saturdays, especially around the bank holiday periods. I feel as if it is wrong to use half a day holiday for a Saturday, when most of the time it’s pointless and for extra profit for the company. Uniform requirements (for men) is draconian, backward, and outdated. No jumpers. White shirts only. Trousers. That’s it (or a an uncomfortable blazer). When I first stated, I had to buy myself 5 extra white shirts to fit the A-Plan standard. My wardrobe had many other colours any other business would allow. When it is winter, most of us would like to wear a smart plain jumper. Men are not allowed, but women can essentially wear what they like as long as it is smart. And it’s almost comical watching a group of 20+ adults bicker about when to put the heating on, or turn it off. Why can’t men have the same freedom as women to wear jumpers, cardigans, other colours? I know everyone in my office agrees. I’m not implying we wear hoodies, or even branded stuff. Just PLAIN jumpers. We work from 8:30- 17:00, when realistically that first half hour is, more of then than not, pointless. Insurers are not open, barely any one phones in. Why not change it to the traditional 9-5? This would reduce hours by 2 and a half per week and ease the burden of working a Saturday. We are organised enough to prepare our work and finish in the required time.
