The DTI's Second Flexible Working Employee Survey 2005 found
that nearly 65% of the UK workforce were aware of their right to
request flexible working, compared to 41% in 2003.
Under legislation introduced in April 2003, employers have a
duty to consider employee requests for flexible working against the
needs of the business as a whole. This survey was carried out by
the DTI to monitor the changes in awareness and take-up of the
right to request flexible working from that legislation.
The study showed nearly a quarter of working parents with young
children have asked to work flexibly over the past two years, while
14% of all employees made such a request.
The statistics also show that employers had accepted 81% of all
requests by employees to work flexibly, compared to 77% in
2003.
Emma Grossmith, an employment law specialist with Pinsent
Masons, the law firm behind OUT-LAW.COM, commented:
"The survey provides yet more evidence that the flexible working
legislation has managed to achieve its aims by simply encouraging
employees to talk and employers to listen, rather than just by
threatening employers with legal claims if they fail to
comply."
Grossmith added that "the success of this legislation bodes well
for the government's plans for new laws outlawing age
discrimination." The Government has indicated that these plans, due
to be published next year, will follow a similar format to the
flexible working legislation.
