An open-minded and innovative approach to flexible working has won the Edinburgh based Scottish Legal Aid Board recognition at the Parents at Work Employer of the Year Awards 2003, held in London. The organisation was recognised in two categories: receiving a prestigious award as most promising new initiative in the Lloyds TSB sponsored "Scottish Employer of the Year" category, and also as one of the five finalists for the UK-wide "Innovation Award".

Staff teams within the organisation have been encouraged to design and manage their own working hours and the results have exceeded everyone's expectations - overtime, sickness absence and staff turnover have all been considerably reduced, whilst business results, customer service and employee morale have improved considerably.

At an awards ceremony in London on Wednesday, Gerry Sutcliffe, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Employment Relations,Competition and Consumers, presented the Board with their award, which is designed to reward employers with the best work-life balance policy and practice in Scotland.

Lindsay Montgomery, Chief Executive said:
"I am delighted that we have won this award. It provides the recognition that our staff and their representatives, deserve for their willingness to work together to improve our business. In a spirit of trust and co-operation they have worked towards a 'win:win' solution to meet our business and their personal and family needs."

The initial phase of the Board's worklife balance initiative last year involved 19 pilot groups creating their own work patterns. This allowed staff to improve their work-life balance through flexible hours within extended office opening times. The pilot phase proved to be so hugely successful that it was extended to all staff.

One of the main reasons for the success of the initiative is that employees have been empowered to plan and monitor their own working hours, with the resulting benefits exceeding all expectations. A recent staff survey found that 87% said the Board created a good worklife balance for staff, an increase of over a third compared to staff views before the initiative. The survey also found that the percentage of staff who said that "the Board is a good organisation to work for" jumped to 91%, up from 67% in a previous staff survey in 2000.

The research also found positive comments by staff, including: "I feel empowered - I can make my own decisions - I feel in control" and "has made me more aware of my workload and better able to plan it effectively".

Although the Board operated 'employee friendly' policies and practices prior to the initiave, it wanted to explore how more flexible working could make improvements, both to the working lives of staff, and to its business. The initiave came at a time of unprecedented change in the Board's work, where retaining staff and becoming an 'employer of choice' in a competitive employement market was important.

The flexible working initiative has resulted in a number of business benefits. In addition to the boost to staff morale, the benefits have included improved service and productivity, whilst halving overtime costs, reducing days lost through sickness, significantly lowering staff turnover and cutting recruitment costs.

ENDS

Journalists please contact: Colin Sim direct tel 0131 240 2033.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. Legal aid allows people who would not otherwise be able to afford it to get help for their legal problems. Legal aid and advice and assistance can only be accessed through a solicitor.

2. In 2002/2003 the costs of legal aid to the taxpayer (net Legal Aid Fund expenditure) was £135.1 million. In 2002/2003 there were 317,042 advice and assistance intimations, 85,915 grants of criminal legal aid, 13,480 grants of civil legal aid, 3,118 grants of children's legal aid and 239 grants for contempt of court.

3. The Scottish Legal Aid Board was set up in 1987 to manage legal aid in Scotland. The Board employs around 330 full-time staff. Twelve Board members, appointed by Scottish Ministers, oversee the work.

The Board's mission is to promote the development and delivery of appropriate access to quality legal assistance for those eligible, in a cost-effective manner.

The work of the Board includes:
* advising Scottish Ministers on the current operation and development of legal aid provision
* managing the Legal Aid Fund
* investigating different ways of delivering a legal aid service, for example, by running pilot schemes
* developing operational plans and policies and procedures, including e-business, to improve the delivery and administration of legal aid
* assessing applications for legal aid
* examining solicitors' and advocates' accounts for legal aid work, and paying them for the work they have done
* collecting, for civil legal aid, contributions, expenses, and money won or kept as a result of civil legal aid or advice and assistance
* registering firms and solicitors under the Board's Code of Practice in relation to criminal legal assistance and monitor their ongoing compliance
* investigating and pursuing abuse of legal aid.

4. The Board has two linked websites: www.slab.org.uk and for the profession, www.slabpro.org.uk

5. PARENTS AT WORK is a campaigning charity, which provides information and support to working parents, and helps employers to reap the business benefits of work-life balance practice. Employers of all sizes from the private, public and voluntary sectors nominated themselves for these unique and prestigious Awards. It also run the Best Boss competition, which celebrates individual bosses, rather than organisations, who make a real difference to their employees' working lives. For more information go to www.parentsatwork.org.uk/asp/awards/a_emplyr_awards.asp
For media information contact Maggy Meade-King at PARENTS AT WORK on 0208 341 0708 or email: maggymk@blueyonder.co.uk