New research published today by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) is right to highlight the rise in flexible working, and right to credit the light-touch ëright to requestî legislation as playing a part in the rise.
However, the government is also guilty of moving slowly for fear of upsetting the likes of the CBI, and risks exacerbating divisions between parents and non-parents in the workplace if they refuse to extend the ëright to requestí to all, according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).
Commenting on new research from BERR showing that 95% of employers offer some form of flexible working for staff, Mike Emmott, Employee Relations Adviser at the CIPD, said:
ìThese findings confirm our own research. Flexible working is on the rise, as growing numbers of employers look for new ways to compete to attract the best people and keep them engaged and motivated.
ìOur research into employee engagement shows flexible workers are happier workers, and happier workers are more motivated to achieve results for their employers.
ìThe government can rightly claim credit for the light-touch ëright to requestí legislation that has encouraged employers to consider employee requests without the need to wield the big stick of compulsion. However, it is a shame that a desire to appease the most vocal in the business lobby has led them to move so slowly on extending the right beyond parents of the youngest children.
ìWe wholly support moves to extend the ëright to requestí to more parents. But the government should be bolder still and extend the right to all workers. 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.
ìMany 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. Our research shows that it would also deliver improved employee engagement, and therefore contribute to boosting productivity.î
Government right to highlight decline in 9 to 5 working
Government right to highlight decline in 9 to 5 working ñ but benefits should not be restricted to working parents
