Katie - the HR Game Changer
Katie
Current role: HR Business Partner, Atos
Age at time of interview: 37
Length of time at Atos: 15 years
Katie believes it’s important to have a happy and engaged workforce, and enjoys the contribution that her role can make in achieving this goal. She sees the value that mature workers bring to the organisation, and is working to expand the kind of age-friendly practices that will attract and retain older colleagues.
I love my job because every day is different. I support the Leadership team as a strategic HR Business Partner, liaising with them on HR issues and supporting them with the business strategy.
The value of mature workers
Mature workers are vital in our organisation because they have such a wealth of experience, whether they’ve gathered that through working in various roles in different organisations or through events that have shaped their personal life.
That life experience really comes into its own when a health professional meets a new claimant. We’ve noticed that older workers can quickly adjust their approach to suit the person who’s in front of them to put them at ease and help the assessment run more smoothly. These skills are welcomed and passed on to colleagues of all ages through formal and informal mentoring initiatives.
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Open to all: starting with recruitment
IAS is working hard across the board to be an age-friendly employer. That starts with the way we approach recruitment. We’re careful never to discriminate in terms of age, and we make sure that the wording of our adverts makes our appeal as broad as possible, so we’re not just attracting a certain age group.
We make it easy for people to apply online and, once the application is submitted, one of our recruiting partners will hold a telephone interview with the applicant. If they’re successful, we ask candidates to complete an online clinical scenario and a typing test, and to come to one of our centres for a ‘meet and greet’ session.
Flexible working
We have a number of HR policies and processes in place that help to support mature workers, including flexible working. Wherever possible, we enable our employees to work flexibly so they can achieve a better level of work / life balance. For some, this might mean working from home some of the time; for others, they have the opportunity to spend more time with family, on a hobby or on charitable pursuits.
Supporting carers
One issue that is affecting an increasing number of older workers is the rise in caring responsibilities. This can often involve the need to look after both ageing parents and grandchildren. As a result, we have established a carers’ policy that enables flexible working for people with caring responsibilities.
New menopause process
On average, women in the UK start the menopause at the age of 51, so this is an issue that will affect some mature female workers. I’m really pleased to have been involved in our new menopause policy and am looking forward to being an ambassador for this element of our HR strategy. The menopause is an issue that has been hidden away in the shadows for far too long, so I’m delighted that we will soon be offering support to women at Atos.
What's Great About IAS?
We’re thoroughly age-friendly
We have a number of different initiatives in place which aim to make IAS more age-friendly. They include flexible working and a carers’ policy for people who are looking after grandchildren or ageing parents. We’re also launching a new menopause policy that will offer support for women at IAS.
We bring the generations together
Our Aeon network was set up in 2016 to bring together the many generations that work in IAS. It’s open to anyone who’s interested in ensuring that everyone in the workplace is supported and has the same chance to grow and succeed, regardless of their age.
We help all ages prepare for the future
Our ‘Future Fit’ programme helps people – including mature workers – to ensure they have the skills they will need in the coming years. Employees can discover upcoming ‘hot growth’ areas and see whether this type of work attracts them. They can also plan their next career move and receive personalised career support. It’s a great way for people to challenge themselves and discover which skills they’d like to develop.
“We’ve introduced age-friendly policies to support our people with caring responsibilities and menopause.”
Katie
HR Business Partner, Atos
Katie's career journey
Katie's advice to others
Get support with job hunting technology
Some job hunters over the age of 45 can find the latest technology daunting, especially because it’s constantly evolving. Personally, even I might struggle to find my feet if I was applying for jobs online. So if you’re not very IT literate, I’d suggest getting some support to help you fill in the online forms and navigate the technology of the application process.
Brush up your CV
It sounds obvious, but it’s essential to have a good CV. While you’re doing that, make sure that you keep it as short as possible. Rather than including reams of detail about every job you’ve ever had, only include the highlights of each role so that your CV will be concise and impactful.
Be open and flexible
At IAS, we’re looking for flexible, resilient, hard-working team players. In your application and at interview, demonstrate to us that you’re willing to learn new skills and are open to different ways of working. We want to know that you’re keen to adapt and are ready to embrace change.
Family, days out, cricket and swimming
Just some of Katie’s interests and side hustles