Hi! If you're new here, you might want to register for free email updates. Just use the form at the top of the sidebar. Thanks for visiting The Payroll Blog!

Plans to delay the implementation of legislation to extend the right to request flexible working to the parents of older children send out completely the wrong message, and risk doing more harm than good to UK competitiveness, according to Jackie Orme, Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Responding to reports that Lord Mandelson has ordered a delay in the implementation of the extension, Jackie Orme said:

“These reports send out completely the wrong message.  They assume that flexible working is a burden on business, and the kind of charitable extra that can be cut back in tougher times.  The reality is that flexible working can deliver competitive advantage by improving employee engagement and attracting talented people to organisations that otherwise might remain outside the workforce.

“The existing right to request flexible working is a model example of light-touch regulation that has helped to change attitudes without causing difficulties for businesses.  Our research shows that many firms, large and small, are going well beyond the existing regulations in any case – extending flexible working to many more employees than required by law.  They recognise the positive impact flexible working policies have on their businesses.  But the message sent out by a delay to ‘reduce burdens’ on business will damage efforts to make the substantial business case for flexible working.

“Our research shows that part-time and flexible workers are happier, more engaged with their work, and therefore more likely to perform better and be more productive.  This is exactly what hard pressed employers need in tougher times.

“These proposals are also spectacularly ill-timed for hardworking families struggling to balance work and family responsibilities, and plan budgets that include substantial childcare costs.”

Written by PayPerShop.com - or reproduced on behalf of the company supplying the above information.

Filed under: Press Releases on October 20th, 2008

Related posts you may enjoy:

ASHE results represent a backward step for gender pay equality, but blaming employers is too simplistic

CIPD disappointed with the removal of the 48-hour opt-out

Increase in minimum wage will have a negative effect on those hit hardest by the recession, says CIPD