I have worked for Agilent Technologies for 2 years as Australia/NZ Workplace Services Manager and previously for 18 years with HP. My wife, Gill fell pregnant earlier last year, and for the same reasons that caused prematurity of our first child, the pregnancy has been treated as 'high-risk'. On the instruction of our medical specialist, Gill has spent seven weeks hospitalised on bed-rest, and a further 6 weeks at home on bed rest. During this time, Gill has not been able to provide care for our daughter Gemma, who has special needs due to her prematurity. Gill is also not allowed to be left at home alone.

Agilent is helping us through this period, by allowing me to work in a flexible arrangement whereby I can provide childcare and transport for my daughter (she attends a variety of social & physical development classes, and also sees a number of pediatric healthcare professionals), whilst still ensuring my job objectives are met. I work at home two days per week.

I am extremely grateful to work for an employer who values me, and is prepared to support my family with flexible arrangements when personal difficulties such as these arise. The following summarises the key points I have seen within Agilent that enable this support:

• Agilent Management is approachable and supportive to discuss options that best meet both the company & individuals needs.
• Agilent provides me with tools to ensure I can be productive when not in the office (laptop with network dial in access, voicemail, mobile phone).
• The quality & helpful nature of my staff and peers ensures that the 'potentially negative' impact of my physical absence from the office is minimal.

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My immediate co-workers are not located in my office but are only a phone call away. They are professional and we perform well as a team. If there is anything we can do to help each other with our work there is always a person to turn to for experience and an immediate response. I enjoy working with the people in my team.

Customers view us as the company that sets the standard in Test and Measurement. I stay because I love the work! Agilent is one of the most flexible companies I have worked for or with. By that I mean Agilent is swift to resolve any issues and often addresses all of the needs of its employees. It's not a question of why I stay but why would I leave? I have made long term plans in my life and Agilent is in them.

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