'Work four years, get one off'

'Work four years, get one off' : "The generous working arrangements are only three in a raft of flexible policies the bank has pioneered since January in a bid to recruit and retain quality people in its army of more than 9000 staff."

The workplace relations at the St. Georges bank would have to improve with conditions like these. They are very enlightened. It is important to keep reliable staff. It is equally important for people to have some flexibility at the different stages of their life. Parents really are under pressure when it comes to working and then providing adequate supervision and support for their children. It's worse when they are little or they get sick. It is also important to be able to walk away form working, take a break and come back refreshed. You do work better. Good workers often have very busy lives where they are doing all sorts of useful things and this needs to be accepted and worked into paid work conditions because it enables our communities to thrive. Happy workers will put in and give it their best.