Government review recommends more parents to get right to request flexible working
Small businesses have a better record of accepting requests for flexible working than larger ones[1], according to the newly published Walsh Review. Led by Sainsbury’s HR director Imelda Walsh, the Review recommends extending the right to request flexible working to parents of children up to age 16. The Government has accepted the recommendation. This means more small businesses are set to benefit from the advantages flexible working brings to the workplace, including increased productivity and recruitment savings.
Around six million employees currently have the right to request flexible working; 3.6 million parents and 2.65 million carers. This will increase to over 10 million [6m plus 4.5m] if the extension goes ahead.
The UK’s small businesses are already performing well in terms of flexible working practices; the British Chambers of Commerce found that 89% of small employers have already provided their employees with some form of flexible working. The arrangements include working from home, part-time work, compressed hours, flexi-time or other arrangements agreed with employers.
Alongside the benefits flexible working brings to employees, employers have found promoting work-life balance makes a positive contribution to their business, namely significant improvements in employee relations (71%), staff retention (60%) and productivity (58%).
To help small businesses manage requests to work flexibly, the Government has developed a range of guides, interactive tools and advice available at www.businesslink.gov.uk/flexibleworking.
John Hutton, Business Secretary, said:
"This is an excellent report that will give a big boost to busy parents who need more help balancing work and family life. It can also help employers who often find they get the best out of mums and dads when they allow them to work flexibly.
"It is important that employers retain control over deciding whether it suits their business to allow people to work flexibly, but extending the right to request to parents of older children will allow families to take priority when decisions are made."
Imelda Walsh, HR director of Sainsbury’s said:
"Support for more flexible and creative ways of working has made significant progress over the past 10 years, through both legislation and voluntary change. Continuing progress depends on both employers and employees believing that there is a fair balance.
"I am convinced that the challenges which parents with older children face are considerable, and that the arguments for raising the age to 16 are compelling. This change would offer an important opportunity for parents to have extra flexibility at key times in their children's lives."
The Government will launch a consultation process over the next few months to gauge views from business and employers, as well as unions and other stakeholders, on the detail of how the change should be implemented.
