Government Considering Extension of Flexible Working Rights
Flexible working hours may soon be made available to all employees provided they make a request for such an arrangement at the beginning of their employment. The government is looking at the feasibility of extending the flexible working hours rights to cover all employees.
As of now the provision is applicable to those employees who have young children who need greater care and attention. These employees can make a request detailing their situation to the employer asking for flexible work timings or work from home options. If the employer finds the request reasonable he can approve it making it a permanent feature of the employment contract.
Parents of children under 6 years of age, or under 18 if the child is disabled, can make use of this right if they have at least 26 weeks of employment history with the organisation. The employee will have to show that he or she is in charge of the child’s upbringing. The right will also be applicable in the case of an employee who is the designated ‘care giver’ for an unwell adult relative or other person living with them.
Speaking about the debate on whether this right can be extended, Yvetter Cooper, Work and Pensions Secretary, stated that legislation must support reasonable and feasible requests for flexible working where employees can opt for such an arrangement at the beginning of their job.
She said that employers who were open to such ideas had found that this attitude helped in boosting their business. Although there may be some situations where flexible working cannot be accepted without affecting the work quality adversely, there must be an attitude change where such options can be discussed freely. Her office had made a serious effort to encourage such a change in attitude in employers and organisations, Cooper assured.
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