Lesson Plan

• Describe the main types of flexible working (home working, flexitime, compressed week, part‑time, job sharing, shift work) and their key characteristics.
• Explain how flexible working can benefit a simple organisational structure and identify potential drawbacks.
• Analyse a case study to decide which flexible‑working option best fits a small business’s needs.
• Develop a brief flexible‑working policy outline covering eligibility, tools, and performance monitoring.

• Projector or interactive whiteboard
• Printed handout summarising flexible‑working types
• Worksheet for policy‑draft activity
• Internet access for video‑conferencing demo
• Sticky notes and markers for group brainstorming

Begin with a quick poll: “Who has ever worked from home or used flexible hours?” Use the responses to highlight the growing relevance of flexible working. Briefly recap the simple organisational structure and set the success criteria: students will be able to identify types of flexible work, weigh pros and cons, and draft a basic policy.

1. Do‑now (5’) – Students list any flexible‑working arrangements they know; share on board.
2. Mini‑lecture (10’) – Present the six flexible‑working types with real‑world examples using slides.
3. Pros & Cons Gallery Walk (10’) – Around the room, stations show advantages and disadvantages; groups add notes on sticky notes.
4. Case Study Analysis (15’) – In pairs, examine a short scenario of a small business and decide which flexible option(s) suit it; justify choices.
5. Policy‑Draft Activity (10’) – Using the worksheet, each pair creates a brief flexible‑working policy outline (eligibility, tools, monitoring).
6. Whole‑class debrief (5’) – Share key ideas, clarify misconceptions, and link back to the simple organisational structure.

Recap the six flexible‑working forms and their impact on small businesses. Ask students to write one “exit ticket” sentence stating which form they think is most valuable and why. For homework, assign a short research task: find a real company that uses one of the flexible arrangements and prepare a one‑page summary.