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Flexible working case study: Michelle Shipworth

We caught up with Michelle Shipworth, Lecturer in Energy and Social Science and Director of Ethics at BSEER, who has an informal flexible working arrangement.

Michelle Shipworth

Tell us a bit about yourself – what is your position within The Bartlett and what kind of tasks do you usually do?

I teach the modules 'Energy People Behaviour' and 'Research Concepts' to MSc students and supervise PGTAs helping me on those modules. I lead a pathway on the ESRC UBEL Doctoral Training Program, and supervise several PhD students. I am highly involved in developing a new research ethics policy and process at UCL, sit on the UCL Research Ethics Committee, and, with the help of a team, am developing a low-risk departmental ethics system. 

I also present at conferences and seminars, write grant applications and journal papers, and supervise and undertake research and consultancies. Although much of this work requires being on campus (attending meetings, presenting lectures, running seminars), quite a lot of my work can be conducted anywhere that I have my laptop with me. 

How do you use the opportunity for flexible working?

To free up time to go fitness classes, I try to work at home two days a week. This saves about two hours of commuting time for each day that I work at home – enough to fit in a class. I tend to go to a lunchtime class because evening classes book up so far in advance and I am much more productive if I break the day up with some exercise. I start work earlier and finish later than when I work on campus. 

How would your work-life balance change without flexible working? 

My health would suffer because I would struggle to fit in fitness classes.

What are the main benefits you take from flexible working? 

The main benefits are to my health. As I get older, I am increasingly conscious of the need to maintain my strength and balance. The fitness classes I attend (ashtanga yoga and pilates) build both of these. Since I also cycle to campus (5 miles each way and very grateful for the bike storage in our building), I am definitely fitter now than before I moved to UCL.

It is also nice to have one or two weekdays when I’m not breathing in the very polluted air we have on campus! I enjoy working at home a couple of days a week; it is very quiet and I can see the garden. I am sure that this varied diet of work location helps maintain my mental, as well as physical, health.

How supportive was your department in setting up a flexible working pattern?

Mine is an informal arrangement. If I need to be on campus (e.g. for a meeting, or for teaching) I come onto campus.

What are the main challenges you face in flexible working (if any)?

I can’t always work at home twice a week because I don’t have control over all of my meetings and teaching schedule. I overcame the challenge of working ergonomically at home.