Hotelplan declares ‘parents-first’ days for GCSE and A-level results

Hotelplan UK is declaring “parents-first” days for staff whose children are receiving their GCSE and A-level results this summer.

The move encourages parents to work from home on results days in order to be able to “jump into action” if their children need them.

This could involve parents just being with their children when they receive their results or helping them to navigate clearing when they might need to make snap decisions about their future education plans.

Chief executive Joe Ponte, whose sons are doing GCSEs and A-levels, said it was vital to recognise there were times when “family comes first”. This year A-level results are announced on August 15 and GCSE results on August 22.

The decision was prompted by Ponte’s own experience when his eldest son needed help to find new A-level options following his GCSE results.

Ponte said: “At Hotelplan UK, we strive to create a flexible environment and know that sometimes family life comes first. With A-level and GCSE results days in the UK approaching, we understand the significance these moments hold for our staff and their families.

“This year, we’re declaring results day as ‘parents-first’ day across Hotelplan UK. We have told parents that, if they are not already, they should work from home so they can be ready to jump into action if their kids need them. Whether it’s celebrating achievements, offering comfort, or simply being there, family moments like this matter.”

The company said the decision meant staff could stay at home and had “permission from the boss to divert their attentions if their kids might need anything” on results days, both of which fall on Thursdays when there are usually large numbers of staff from the same teams in the office.

The company, which includes brands such as Inghams, Explore Worldwide and Inntravel, has 450 staff and already operates a hybrid working environment to support a work-life balance.

Full timers are expected to work two days in the office and three days from home. The company’s head office is in Farnborough while its Inntravel office is in Yorkshire.

The company also supports flexible working around caring responsibilities and appointments and around one in seven staff work part-time.

Ponte stressed the company’s commitment to fostering a workplace culture which recognises the diverse needs of its teams. “By giving our teams the flexibility to support their children, we hope this will contribute to their success and wellbeing,” he said.

Ponte said his own house had felt like a “study dorm” for the last six months, with his eldest son taking A-levels and his twin sons completing their GCSEs.

He added: “I’m incredibly proud of my boys and they’ve certainly earned the chance to relax and enjoy summer now. But come mid-August, the nerves will be back again around results days.”