Employee Benefits poll: One-third (35%) of organisations do not think that the recent Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill goes far enough to support working carers, according to a survey of Employee Benefits readers.
Meanwhile, 37% think that it does go far enough to support staff who are working carers, whereas 28% were unsure if it does or not.
Last month, Employee Benefits reported that the bill, which will allow UK workers to request flexible working from day one in a job, had received Royal Assent. Employees now have the right to request this twice a year instead just once, and employers are required to consider these and provide a reason before rejection within two months of a request, as opposed to the previous three months.
The government also removed existing requirements for an employee to explain what effect, if any, the change applied for would have on the employer and how that might be dealt with. Employees can request flexible working hours or patterns including part-time, term-time, flexi-time, compressed hours, or adjusting start and finish times. It also covers where someone works, such as from home or a satellite office in order to shorten their commute.
Kevin Hollinrake, business and trade minister, said: “A happier workforce means increased productivity, and that’s why we’re backing measures to give people across the UK even more flexibility over where and when they work.
“Not only does flexible working help individuals fit work alongside other commitments, whether it’s the school drop off, studying or caring for vulnerable friends and family, it’s good business sense too, helping firms to attract more talent, increase retention and improve workforce diversity.”