Flexible working right might not be extended
October 20, 2008
Remember the outcome of the review of the right to request flexible working that was carried out by Immelda Walsh? It was decided that the right would be extended to parents of children up to the age of 16, and was due to come into effect from April next year. Well, today’s news has cast doubt over whether this change will actually take place.
It has been reported that Business Secretary Lord Mandelson is looking into all legislative changes that are due to come into force, to review whether any of these will have a further detrimental effect on the economic problems the country is facing.
At the time of the review and the recommendation to extend the request, many small business owners and managers criticised the change as it was seen as potentially damaging to companies as they try to cope with an increase in requests. With the impending ‘recession’, this argument could be seen as even more critical as small businesses will be worst affected by the financial crisis.
However, the credit crisis doesn’t just affect businesses – workers are also going to be hit by the financial problems, so by taking a step back from the agreement to increase the right to request flexible working, the government will be seen as taking sides with the business community rather than the everyday worker – i.e. the voter. This is why I can’t see the change to the regulations being withdrawn. Also, as Brendan Barber, general secretary of the TUC pointed out, the right is to request flexible working and not a right to flexible working, so “if such a request harms the business, the owner can say no”.
Clearly there is a need to find ways to support UK businesses through the hard times ahead, but I can’t see a change of heart over the right to request flexible working being one of them.
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