Examples of A Long Proposal

FLEXIBLE WORKING HOURS

An Initial Study for ABC Ltd
by
Jane Smith
An Initial Study
Objective
To identify the factors involved in introducing flexible working hours, to examine
their benefits and disadvantages and to recommend the best approaches to take
Summary
At present, almost all employees of ABC Ltd work from 9.00 to 5.00. A handful
work from 9.30 to 5.30
Many, thought not all, staff are unhappy with this and would prefer a more flexible
arrangement. Some are working mothers and would like to be able to take their
children to and from school. Some, particularly the older employees, have sick or
elderly relatives who make demands on their time, which do not fit comfortably
with their working hours.

For the company itself, this dissatisfaction among staff leads to low morale and
reduced productivity. It also makes it harder to attract and retain good staff

There are three basic options for the future:

1. Leave things as they are. This is obviously less demanding on resources that
implementing a new system. At least we know it works even is not perfect.
2. Highly flexible system. Employees would clock on and clock off anytime with a
12
1 2 hour working day until they have clocked up 35hours a week. This would
be

the hardest system to implement

3. Limited flexibility. Staff could work any time between 8.00 to 10.00 am and
work
through for eight hours. This would not solve all employees problem but it
would
solve most of them.

Proposal
Introduce a system of limited flexibility for now, retaining the option of increasing
flexibility later if this seems appropriate
Position
The current working hours at ABC Ltd are 9.00 t0 5.00 for most employees, with
afew working from 9.30 to 5.30.
Problem
Although this works up to a point, it does have certain advantages, both for the
organization and for some employees.
The organization: The chief advantages of the current system are that many of
the staff is dissatisfied with it. This has become such a serious problem that it is

means they are less productive than they could be.

The employees: Some employees are satisfied with their current working hours,
but many of them find the present system restrictive. There are several reasons
for this but employees most strongly in favor of greater flexibility are, in particular:
1. parents, especially mothers, who would prefer to be able to take their children
to

and from school, and to work around this commitment

2. employees, many of them in the older age range, who elderly or sick relatives
who they would like to be more available for
More flexible approach would make it easier for many staff to fulfill these kinds of
demands on their time
Possibilities
Since this report is looking at the principle and not the detail of a more flexible
approach, the options available fall broadly into three categories: retaining the
present system, introducing limited flexibility of working hours, and implementing
a highly flexible system.
Highly flexible system. A higly flexible system would men keeping the site open
from,
Limited flexibility: this would make asking employees to continue to work an eight
hour day
Proposal
Given the number staff in favor or more flexible working hours, and the
importance

But is probably advisable to find a system that allows the significant minority who
prefer to stay as they are to do so.
So which is the best system to choose? It is harder to go backwards than forwards
in developing new systems; If they highly flexible approach failed it would be
difficult to pull back to a less flexible system (in terms of keeping the staff happy).
On the other hand, a limited degree of flexibility could be easily be extended later if
this seemed appropriate.
Therefore, at this stage it seems that the most workable system, which contains
most of the benefits required by the employees, is the limited flexibility of working
hours.
Appendix I
The table of employee responses to the proposal for flexible working hours
AGE
GROUP

18-30
30-40
40-50
50-60

MEN

MEN

Total
Positive
number response
consulted
20
19
23
19
15
8
12
2
70
48

MEN
Negative
response
1
4
7
10
22

WOMEN
Total
number
18
29
12
8
67

WOMEN
Positive
response
18
27
8
7
60

WOMEN
Negative
response
0
2
4
1
7

Examples of A Short Report

Title

Introduction

MARUMAN STORES, NOTTHING HILL BRANCH

REPORT ON POSSIBILITY OF OPENING A CRECHE
INTRODUCTION
I was asked to investigate the opening of a Creche at the Notting

State who asked for the report and what you were asked to do

Hill branch by Mrs. Lilian Cheng. In order to do this the following

steps were taken:

1. I obtained a breakdown of figures showing the number of

List the steps taken to gather the information

customers with young children.
2. I discussed this issue with several customers who brought
children to the store
3. The accommodation, staffing, and insurance issues were
considered

Discussion

4. I investigated the experience of other shops that already have

a crche
DISCUSSION

State the findings in a logical order.

speech
1. 7,Use
3%reported
of Maruman
customers have at least one child under the
age of 3
2. The majority of customers interviewed said they would use a
crche if the cost was reasonable. Some of these customers
might also consider using the shop if there was a crche
3. There are strict laws and regulations concerning
accommodation

4. Staff appointed to run the crche would have to be fully

qualified
5. A suitable space would have to be found
6. The company would be required to ensure adequate
insurance
7. Many rival stores in the neighborhood are offering crche
facilities

Conclusion

Make a logical conclusion from the findings

CONCLUSIONS
A crche would be popular and well- used if we decided to go
ahead with this.

Recomendation
RECOMMENDATIONS

Suggest action that should be taken

I suggest that the company should consider offering a crche
and investigate the financial aspects that would be involved.

Sign the document and state your name and title. Include a reference and date
Sally Turner
Customer Services Executive
L/C
20 April 20..