Case study of flexible working: Melanie Neill, UBS Warburg

Until last year I worked full time as the global functional head of cross product services at UBS Warburg.

I was responsible for a global workforce involved in payments processing, cash management and controls. Operations in an investment bank is a twenty-four processing shop. The role was fulfilling, but it involved a lot of travel, as well as a lot of evening work.

One afternoon last spring, I looked out of the window in my office and decided that was no longer the life for me. My eldest daughter was starting her exams to get into secondary school and I was struggling to give her the support she needed.

My boss was supportive. We discussed how, going forwards, my time could be structured. We both recognised that it would be difficult for me to continue in my existing position if I wanted to work a shorter week and so we agreed that I would move sideways into my current role.

Initially I wasn't sure how it would work out. Would I feel like I was letting everyone down when I left work on Thursday evening? In fact, everything's turned out surprisingly well.

The work I do now is largely project based, which makes it easier to take time out. I am one of a small team of people charged with helping John Costas, the chief executive officer (CEO). Much of what I do is confidential; suffice to say that it involves helping the CEO with specific tasks he wants to achieve.

This makes it varied and interesting. During the past year I've worked on a wide range of projects, including employee training, outsourcing and HR.

In my new role, I've retained my title as a managing director and I receive my previous salary and benefits on a pro-rata basis.

I do have a lot less responsibility than I had before, particularly in terms of people management and strategic issues. But it's been a worthwhile sacrifice in order to spend more time with my family.

Will I ever move back to working full time? It's a difficult question. While I'm at work I can easily imagine myself working a five-day week again. But while I'm at home, I can quite easily foresee myself carrying on working three days, or even downsizing and doing less work still!