Durham Country Cricket Club has called in consultants to help improve
work-life balance for its employees.
Performance improvement company General Physics has teamed up with the club
to introduce flexible working, help staff deal with legislation and cope with
the increased pressure of the professional game.
The key developments are more flexible working hours, better internal
communications and a new system for staff to raise concerns about working
practices at a higher level.
DCCC chief executive David Harker, said, "I believe we are the first
sports club to participate in something like this and it has given us a better
understanding of different pressures within business. We learned that the
management and staff can improve conditions."
Graham Everall, a consultant at GP who provided consultancy help to DCCC,
believes work-life balance will change the way sports clubs operate.
"All sports now have to be run as more of a business and off-the-field
activity places a whole range of burdens on staff," he said.
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None of the actual coaching or playing staff are involved in the initiative
as it was felt they were too far into training for the season, but the club
said it is something it may consider in the future.
By Ross Wigham
