Last month the TUC welcomed the announcement of the Queen’s Speech that the Government is to review the existing right that some working parents and all carers have to request flexible working.  In addition, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:

“Hopefully the review of the right to request to work flexibly will significantly increase the numbers of working mums and dads who are able to ask their employers to change the hours they work. 

“For most parents, the right to request ceases to exist the minute their child turns six, yet parents of school age children are perhaps those most likely to need a degree of flexibility from their employers. 

“Being able to work flexibly would be a real bonus to parents with children at schools that have no breakfast or after school clubs, and others would jump at the chance to alter their hours so that they can spend more time with their children during school holidays. The TUC looks forward to taking part in the review.”

Since last month many other organisations have commented on the announcement as well including Mike Emmott, CIPD Employee Relations Adviser who said:

 “We welcome the government’s intention to consult on extending the right to request flexible working. The CIPD has argued for this right to be extended to all workers. The light-touch nature of the existing right to request has had a positive impact on work-life balance without causing undue difficulties for employers.

“However, the danger with ever larger groups of people entitled to request flexible working, and a smaller number not entitled to do so, is that divisions will grow up in the workplace. Many enlightened employers already allow employees to work flexibly regardless of their family status. An extension of the right to request to all workers would level the playing field, without compelling employers to offer flexible working where this is incompatible with business needs.”

“A bill will be introduced to ensure that young people stay in education or training until age 18 and to provide new rights to skills training for adults.”

You can seek guidance from the BERR site, which states:
 

“Flexible working opportunities benefit everyone: employers, employees and their families.  Many employers know that it makes good business sense to provide flexible working opportunities for their staff because they enable them to:
-retain skilled staff and reduce recruitment costs;
-raise their staff morale and decrease absenteeism; and
 -react to changing market conditions more effectively.
For individuals, the opportunity to work flexibly can enable them to strike a better balance between their home and work responsibilities.”

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