The company was pleased with the recognition associated with the success of Julia’s family-friendly working arrangements when these were profiled in a management magazine. Julia reported that she had suggested the arrangement and after a 3 month-trial period, the company formalised it. Julia noted she took calls at home and responded to emails if urgent on the day she was not employed, and that she was happy to alter her days in emergency situations. Martin Drummond, her Manager added that the feedback from Julia’s 12 regional contacts was positive, and that the arrangement appeared to suit everyone.

For the last two years Julia’s performance review ratings were “commendable” and Carl’s were “effective”. Julia was hence paid a marginally higher base salary which reflected an increase associated with her past performance review ratings. There was no increase in base salary for an “effective” rating. In addition Julia and Carl received annual bonuses that related directly to their personal average percentage profit made per 20 hours worked. Julia had received a larger bonus than Carl for the past 2 years, her higher profit figures also generally reflected in the “commendable” rating.

Julia and Carl filled in for each other when needed, but when Martin was away on leave, Carl was put in the “acting role” receiving a temporary wage increase. This had happened 3 times over the past 2 years. Julia had never been offered the acting position, but had on each occasion been asked by Martin to keep an eye on Carl while he was in it. While she hadn’t worried too much about the situation, she had recently felt irritated when filling out the company’s new succession plan documentation, where unlike Carl she couldn’t stipulate that she’d formally acted as the Manager of the area.

Currently in the role Carl was speaking with 3 new graduates from other areas as part of an induction process. One graduate asked Carl about casual Friday, noting that it was Friday and not everyone seemed to be “into the opportunity”. Carl was overheard by support staff to say “ it’s fine for the girls, but I think you’ll find the boys on this floor balance the ‘opportunity’ as you call it, with how serious they are about their careers.”

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