By Charlotte Webster-
All employees in the UK are set to be given the right to request flexible working when they start new jobs.
The plan would allow all UK employees to request a flexible working arrangement from the first day at work with a new employer.
Under the new proposals, bosses will have to respond to requests for flexible working a lot quicker than the current maximum of three months, and must also explain the refusal of any requests.
Wages are likely to be be reviewed under flexible arrangements, but not in a way that compromises fairness or is prejudicial to the essence of the flexibility. It will give employees greater say over their working arrangements, and allow them to pursue other engagements where they so desire.
The arrangements revealed to the BBC was explored in 2019 in relation to flexible remote working hours. It became more necessary following the pandemic which has seen a vast majority of people work at home, away from the office. A related survey conducted by the broadcasting corporation also revealed that a majority of people do not plan to return to the offices, but would rather work from home.
At the same time , over 200 senior leaders comprising half of those surveyed by polling organisation YouGov concluded that workers staying at home would adversely affect both creativity and collaboration – against just 38% of the general public. The news has been welcomed from all corners.
Stephen Warnham, head of content at UK jobs site Totaljobs.com, said the move pointed to “a growth in a hybrid way of working”, where people are “trusted to work in the way that best gets the job done”.
“If you consider the jobs market as it stands with all its vacancies, businesses listening to the needs and wants of employees is key.”
As part of a survey of 200,000 staff worldwide, published in March this year, Totaljobs found that nine in 10 employees wanted partial flexibility to choose where they work.
“From a legislative perspective this is long overdue as a third of employers we speak to are already doing this anyway, so it is a really critical change,” said Mr Warnham.
TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said that flexible working “should be a right” to everyone from their first day in the job.
“But these proposals won’t be the game changer ministers claim, as employers can still turn down any or all requests for flexible working,” she continued.
“The government should change the law so that workers have the legal right to flexible work from day one in the job – not just the right to ask for it”