Inflexible working leads to ‘brain drain’
Women part-time workers are still earning 40 per cent less per hour than men working full-time – the same pay gap as 30 years ago, a new report reveals.
But a year-long study by the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) finds that the potential of both men and women is being left untapped by Britain’s current working arrangements.
More than 3.5 million of part-time workers have used higher qualifications or had more experience managing staff in previous jobs, it finds, while a further two million said they could “easily work at a higher level”.
The EOC is now calling for “fresh, flexible thinking” about the nature of work itself, saying most businesses still operate with the “increasingly outdated” model where full-time is the norm from which part-timers deviate.
Giving people the choice to work shorter hours is good for business, the report argues, while it also has the power to transform the quality of life in Britain – “more time not just for children, relatives, communities and personal fulfillment, but also better health”.
Earlier this week the CBI called on ministers not to extend flexible working laws, citing a survey showing that laws entitling parents with young children to flexi-time were taking too much of employers’ time in administration.
The government is generally in favour of flexible working, believing it leads to higher morale and less absenteeism in the workplace, as well as allowing skilled staff to remain in their jobs when their personal circumstances change.
But businesses argue that they are in danger of being overwhelmed with “unjustified” unemployment law that stops them being able to work efficiently.
Today’s report does acknowledge the potential costs to businesses, and calls on the government to help cover the initial costs of introducing such arrangements in small firms until they can assess the effects.
But it insists the government must extend the right to request flexible working to all and enable training and advice for managers on the issue “to halt this waste of potential”.
For the full EOC report please click here.
