Magrock has introduced new full-time contracts for its 125 employees that let staff condense contracted hours into four days or spread them across five, with an option to work from home on the fifth day, giving HR teams in construction a tested model for flexible working across offices and live sites.

Magrock is a Kent-based main contractor, established in 2016, with its headquarters in West Malling and an office in Coventry, delivering industrial, commercial, logistics, retail and leisure projects. It employs around 125 people and reports turnover of more than £100 million (€116 million).

The strategic logic pairs flexibility with continuity. The structure is designed so Magrock maintains full operational capability across the working week while improving efficiency, planning workloads effectively and keeping employees fully available.

The structural driver is employee feedback gathered during a four-and-a-half day week trial rolled out nationally across regional offices and live construction sites, during which Magrock also monitored business productivity and operational output.

The feedback consistently highlighted work-life balance, flexibility, communication, collaboration and a workplace that supports staff both professionally and personally.

Richard Brewer, managing director at Magrock, said: “At Magrock, we’ve always believed that our people are our greatest asset and that the Magrock way is built on valuing and investing in them. It was about creating a happier, more engaged workforce, while maintaining productivity and delivering the high standards our clients expect.”

Becca Creighton, head of people at Magrock, said: “This has been a long journey of conversations, feedback, testing, learning and, at times, taking a leap of faith. What has stood out throughout, is the commitment from the leadership team to do what’s right for our people, even when it means stepping outside of our comfort zone and doing things differently from the rest of the industry.”

The initiative was announced as Magrock marks its 10-year anniversary.

For the sector, the contract shows a main contractor using trial results and staff feedback to offer flexible working structures to all 125 employees, a model likely to be watched by other contractors weighing similar changes.

Source: HRNews / Employee Benefits