Unions and campaigners say government “must go further” on flexible working rights
- New legislation does not go far enough, say groups
- Government must deliver manifesto commitments to ‘’unlock’’ flexible working
- Flexible working is “good for working people, good for employers and good for the economy”
After the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill was given Royal Assent yesterday and became law, unions, rights groups, and women’s organisations have come together to call on the government to go further and deliver on its manifesto commitments to unlock flexible working.
The legislation will strengthen employee rights to flexible working, while the government has also committed to bring in a day one right to request flexible working for employees.
But the TUC and other campaigners say this does not go far enough. A right to request is not a legal right to work flexibly from day one in the job and means many flexible working requests can and will be rejected by employers.
Joint statement with unions and campaigners
In a joint statement published today, signatories including the TUC, Fawcett Society, Women’s Budget Group and Timewise, among others, warn the legislation does not go far enough:
‘’Whilst this is an important step, the government must go further.’
‘’Mums, dads, disabled people (including those with Long Covid), carers and older workers are just some of the groups that we know are more likely to need flexibility to get into work, stay and progress. And flexible working is important for everyone to achieve better work life balance and make time for life outside work.’’
“But even with the new legislation, those who need flexibility to work will be forced to ask what arrangements are available in the recruitment process. We know many applicants don’t mention flexible working due to justified fears of discrimination or rejection.’’
TUC General Secretary, Paul Nowak said:
“Flexible working should be a day one right that’s available to everyone.
“But under these new plans, it does not go far enough.
“The government must deliver on their manifesto commitments and change the law so workers have the legal right to work flexibly from the first day in the job.
“Not all jobs can support every kind of flexible working – but all jobs can support some kind of flexible working. And all job adverts should make clear what kind of flexibility is available.”
Government action needed
The union body is calling for the government to:
- Unlock the flexibility in all jobs. Every job can be worked flexibly. There are a range of hours-based and location-based flexibilities to choose from – and there is a flexible option that will work for every type of job. Employers should think upfront about the flexible working options that are available in a role, publish these in all job adverts and give successful applicants a day one right to take up any of those options.
- Make flexible working a genuine legal right from the first day in a job. People should have the right to work flexibly from day one, unless the employer can properly justify why this is not possible. Workers should have the right to appeal any rejections. And there shouldn’t be a limit on how many times workers can ask for flexible working arrangements in a year.
