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BT, the UK's incumbent telecoms provider, is offering staff up to one year's leave at 25% of their normal pay or to work only during school term time for a pro-rated salary.



The company cut 30,000 jobs earlier this year following the underperformance of its Global Services Division and the difficulties brought by international economic circumstances. The latest announcement is a further attempt by the company to reign in its costs and improve the company's performance.



The new plans are in addition to a range of flexible working arrangements already in place at BT.  These arrangements provide the opportunity for workers and the company to find solutions which meet the needs and interests of both parties, assuming that workers are able to make choices voluntarily and to negotiate such arrangements in a free and fair atmosphere.



UK union, Connect, has recently been involved in discussions with BT over ways in which the company can use flexible resourcing options to help reduce labour costs. The union supports these initiatives to help secure employment opportunities in BT over the longer term. BT has assured workers and their unions that where hours are reduced, workload and targets will be reduced accordingly.