Flexibility to flourish: Ann Bott and Liam Murphy

People want to build careers in an environment that makes them feel included, valued, trusted and cared for – that integrate seamlessly with their lives, so they have the freedom to balance their work and home life in a meaningful way. 

At Ogier, we recognise that our people are so much more than the jobs that they do. We believe in supporting the whole individual through an inclusive, supportive and flexible working environment that aligns with our values.

Not only do we want to attract the best talent, but we want to enable every one of our people to thrive, at every level of the firm and at every stage of their personal and professional lives.

Hear from communications executive Ann Bott and counsel Liam Murphy, both based in the Guernsey office, about their experiences at Ogier.

Ann Bott – Communications Executive in Ogier's Marketing team

Can you share an example of how Ogier's commitment to flexibility has positively impacted your work-life balance?

Ogier's hybrid working policy has allowed me to attend several lunchtime and after work exercise classes, which would have been much harder to squeeze in if I was purely office-based. Knowing that I have the flexibility to work from home when I wish and keep up with my hobbies has had a very positive impact on my work-life balance and overall sense of wellbeing.

In what ways has Ogier supported your personal or professional development through flexible working arrangements?

I am currently studying for a qualification with the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, supported by Ogier. Being able to work remotely on the days when I am planning to study allows me to fit in more study time before or after work, and my team are very flexible about which days I take to do this. On the flip side, it's really important that we have our Connect Day – when all the Guernsey-based members of the marketing team are in the office – so that we can collaborate and catch up in person.

How does the flexibility at Ogier enable you to bring your unique experiences and skills to the table?

Being given the flexibility to block out regular time in my diary for Ogier's Guernsey Sports and Social Committee activities has allowed me to bring my creativity and event organisation skills into another area of the firm. I have the chance to undertake these activities outside of the day-to-day role, which adds variety to the workload and helps foster a sense of belonging to the wider Ogier community.

Liam Murphy – Counsel in Ogier's Corporate and Funds team

Can you share an example of how Ogier's commitment to flexibility has positively impacted your work-life balance?

Personally, I prefer to be in the office as much as possible as I love the contact with my colleagues. However, my husband runs his own business and is sometimes called on to attend client events at short notice, often overseas. The ability to work from home when needed – and the investment in the technology to allow me to do so, which Ogier provides to all of its people – allows me to be at home with the dog, secure in the knowledge that my productivity will be unaffected and clients will always be able to contact me.

In what ways has Ogier supported your personal or professional development through flexible working arrangements?

Becoming a Guernsey advocate is a stringent process that is not for the faint-hearted. Knowing that Ogier will support me with study leave to afford me the time to focus on building the expertise required to sit the Guernsey Bar exams is a huge positive. This isn't possible without the support of the entire team, and the fact that Ogier will invest the resources required to allow lawyers to take this time is massively impactful on both a personal and professional level. This approach to our professional development creates a huge sense of mutual trust.

In your opinion, what makes Ogier’s approach to flexibility stand out in the professional services industry?

Ogier's commitment to offering flexibility is steadfast and observed in practice not just in theory. The flexible working policy allows us to draw on the widest possible talent pool and offer patterns of working to suit those with commitments outside of work, whether these are ongoing or transitory. A huge bonus is that flexibility allows us to accommodate changing needs – and as we all face pressures outside of the office from time to time, this has a hugely positive impact on morale. In my opinion, allowing our people to manage competing priorities brings out the best in everyone and helps us stand out in the industry.

Careers at Ogier

If these stories resonated with you, or this is the kind of ethos you're looking for in an employer, then visit our careers page to find out about the roles we're hiring for all across the business. See more on our careers pages.

About Ogier

Ogier is a professional services firm with the knowledge and expertise to handle the most demanding and complex transactions and provide expert, efficient and cost-effective services to all our clients. We regularly win awards for the quality of our client service, our work and our people.

Disclaimer

This client briefing has been prepared for clients and professional associates of Ogier. The information and expressions of opinion which it contains are not intended to be a comprehensive study or to provide legal advice and should not be treated as a substitute for specific advice concerning individual situations.

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