Government plans to extend flexible working rights

The government is investigating ways to help businesses deal with flexible working requests more easily, as part of a new consultation.

The consultation comes as part of the Walsh Review, commissioned by the government to investigate the issue of flexible working.

Currently, only parents of children aged 6 or under, or of disabled children up to the age of 18 can request flexible working. The review recommends that this be extended to include parents of children aged up to 16.

Employment relations Minister Pat McFadden said the consultation would seek the opinion of businesses on how best to reduce the administrative paperwork involved in the process.

"The right to request flexible working has worked well because it helps employees to balance their home and work lives, but at the same time gives employers the right to say no where there are legitimate business concerns," he said.

It is also being considered whether to scrap the requirement that employees receive written acceptance of their request, However Sarah Jackson, Chief Executive of Working Families, warns against culling too much paperwork:

"Verbal agreements can be open to misinterpretation, and when the future of somebody's job, or the success of someone's business, is at stake it is really important to have everything clearly recorded.”

The government plans to launch an awareness campaign in the near future, with the aim of raising awareness to those who may not know they are eligible for flexible working, and to reduce the administrative procedures involved.