Revolutionising construction culture: My Time pioneers flexibility, wellbeing, and inclusivity for a sustainable workforce and industry success
Seymour Whyte introduced My Time – a groundbreaking pilot initiative launched at our Mulgoa Road Upgrade Project.
In the below video, Kylie Smart and Greg Anderson discuss how My Time transforms the workplace, sharing insights into how the initiative boosts employee engagement, fosters an inclusive culture, and drives a more sustainable future for our industry.
My Time is already making a significant impact in the construction industry. Created to prioritise work-life balance, flexibility, and employee wellbeing, My Time was launched in consultation with the Construction Industry Cultural Taskforce (CICT), to transform workplace culture on our sites.
Already seeing positive results, My Time sets new standards in employee engagement, productivity, and retention. The initiative is a testament to the power of flexibility and inclusion, making a meaningful impact on how construction companies approach their people and their work environments.
People prosper: The philosophy of My Time
By prioritising balance and flexibility, My Time ensures that workers can pursue their personal and professional lives with equal focus, leading to improved satisfaction and a stronger work culture.
National and global recognition
My Time has received prestigious recognition, including international acclaim at the 2024 VINCI Construction HR Innovation Awards held in the south of France for its contributions to the Mulgoa Road Upgrade Project.
My Time was honoured with the Public Grand Prize, as voted by VINCI [non-Seymour Whyte] employees, recognising it as their favourite HR initiative, as well as the HR Innovation of the Year Award 2024.
Photos (above): VINCI Construction Innovation Awards 2024 awarded for My Time to Kylie Smart.
Below: Kylie (in red jacket) and Alanna Herbst (in white shirt) accepting the award in France for Seymour Whyte.
Additionally, Champion of Change recognition at the NAWIC NSW Awards for Excellence 2024 was awarded to Greg Anderson, former Alliance Manager for the Mulgoa Road Upgrade Project, highlighting the impact of his leadership in driving My Time’s cultural transformation.
Rhiannon Rogers, Senior Projects Administrator:
“Greg has always guided me in the right direction and has always been supportive and caring throughout my time with him at the Mulgoa Road Upgrade Project. Greg always allows flexibility for me whether it was to work around my wedding schedule and working from home whenever needed. He is always willing to train and upskill and is all around a great director to work for.”
Photo (L-R): Gabrielle Pawley, Georgia Voura, Rick Cassab, Scott Calleja, Suzie Reid, Greg Anderson,
Sharon Pearce, Rob Parry-Williams, Patrick McCormack, Frank Callanan at the 2024 NSW NAWIC Awards.
Danielle Turrin, Senior Project Engineer, said, that she’d witnessed Greg set the standard to be followed for respectful behaviour with the result being an inclusive team culture.
“Greg champions time management so that the female team members can meet regularly to develop strong working relationships and create a support network together. He has personally supported females within the team to pursue outreach opportunities, presenting at local schools about the construction industry and attending both NAWIC and CCF events.
On International Women’s Day in 2024, an event was organised with the female team members where Greg delivered a speech that defined his unwavering support for each female in the project team to achieve their personal definition of success. This speech opened the door for conversation to happen both informally and formally in performance reviews and development plans regarding the interests of each individual and how the opportunities on the project could be aligned to help further progress towards goals.”
The flexibility factor: Work-life integration in action
In an industry where long hours and physical demands often take precedence, My Time has introduced an innovative approach to flexible work practices. The initiative is already proving that flexibility can coexist with high performance.
The initiative centres on creating My Time Plans, tailored to the individual needs of each team member. These plans promote flexible schedules to accommodate personal priorities such as fitness, childcare, professional development, and community involvement.
The initiative began with a workshop designed to educate employees about the importance of work-life balance and the benefits of flexibility.
The team collaborated to establish ground rules for how flexible arrangements could be implemented, with each participant developing a personalised plan that is prominently displayed on the worksite.
This ensures that flexibility is discussed AND actively practised daily. Regular reviews allow the team to adjust these plans as needed, ensuring they remain responsive to the changing needs of employees.
The results from the pilot are already promising. Workers have expressed high satisfaction with management’s support for flexible work practices—a rarity in traditional construction projects. As flexibility becomes a core value, employees feel more empowered to manage their work-life balance, leading to better engagement, higher productivity, and a greater sense of inclusion on the team.
The flexibility factor: Work-life integration in action
In an industry where long hours and physical demands often take precedence, My Time has introduced an innovative approach to flexible work practices. The initiative is already proving that flexibility can coexist with high performance.
The initiative centres on creating My Time Plans, tailored to the individual needs of each team member. These plans promote flexible schedules to accommodate personal priorities such as fitness, childcare, professional development, and community involvement.
The initiative began with a workshop designed to educate employees about the importance of work-life balance and the benefits of flexibility.
The team collaborated to establish ground rules for how flexible arrangements could be implemented, with each participant developing a personalised plan that is prominently displayed on the worksite.
This ensures that flexibility is discussed AND actively practiced daily. Regular reviews allow the team to adjust these plans as needed, ensuring they remain responsive to the changing needs of employees.
The results from the pilot are already promising. Workers have expressed high satisfaction with management’s support for flexible work practices—a rarity in traditional construction projects. As flexibility becomes a core value, employees feel more empowered to manage their work-life balance, leading to better engagement, higher productivity, and a greater sense of inclusion on the team.
A collaborative approach to flexibility
One of the standout features of My Time is its collaborative nature. Unlike one-size-fits-all policies, My Time allows each team member to work with their colleagues to develop flexible arrangements that best suit the needs of the team. This fosters a culture of inclusivity, where everyone’s voice is heard, and solutions are co-created.
By allowing team members to tailor their schedules to their personal needs, My Time empowers individuals to take ownership of their wellbeing.
We’re excited to announce that My Time is now being rolled out across more Seymour Whyte projects. The program will be implemented on the Mamre Road Upgrade Stage 1, Clyde Road Upgrade, and M1 Heatherbrae Bypass projects, expanding the positive impact of flexible work arrangements across Seymour Whyte.
As My Time grows, it continues to shape a more inclusive, sustainable future for the construction industry, fostering a culture where work-life balance and wellbeing are integral to daily operations. As flexibility becomes a standard practice, it’s clear that employees in construction can work in a way that accommodates their personal lives while contributing to the project’s success. The early results show that this approach doesn’t just benefit the workers—it benefits the project, too.
Greg Anderson sums it up perfectly…
“Incorporating flexible work practices is integral to fostering the wellbeing and success of our people. My Time is not about adjusting hours; it’s about creating a culture where everyone feels supported and empowered to succeed.”
The My Time initiative is in its early stages. Its initial success shows great promise as a blueprint for the future of construction industry culture.
By embedding flexibility into everyday work practices, Seymour Whyte is leading the way in fostering a more inclusive, supportive, and sustainable industry that attracts and retains top talent from all backgrounds.
