A new TUC poll - conducted by YouGov - of 903 HR managers, has revealed that 70 per cent said flexible working could work for their business.
The poll shows that employers attitudes towards flexible working arrangements have decidedly changed during the pandemic, with 49 per cent of respondents saying that - because of the pandemic - greater flexible working could work for their business. Added to that are 21 per cent who say that their business already allowed significant flexible working before the pandemic.
Only 24 per cent of the HR managers polled said that - following the pandemic - they will not be permitting any significant flexible working at their company or business.
Regarding job adverts, the poll revealed that 62 per cent of the HR professionals stated that they could either include specific information about the pattern of home or remote working available in each role, or that they already did this. In addition, 59 per cent of HR managers polled said it would be easy to include specific information in each job advert about the types of hours-based flexible working arrangements available - or they already did this.
Peter Cheese - Chief Executive at the CIPD - commented that flexible working was here to stay, meaning that businesses need to discover what works best for them and their employees, adding that in a tight labour market, flexible working could prove crucial for employers facing recruitment difficulties.
However, he cautioned that it was vital for employers to consider all their workforce in offering a range of flexible working options - from day one of employment - to include flexitime; compressed hours; job sharing and term-time working.
He said:
“This means that everybody can benefit from flexibility, not just those who are able to work from home.”
Despite proposing several legislative changes, including giving employees the right to request flexible working from the first day of their employment, the government has made it clear that firms should still be able to reject flexible working requests if they have a business reason for doing so.
The TUC is asking the government to make flexible working a legal right from day one of the employment - unless the employer can justify the reason it is not possible. They are also asking for employees to have the right to appeal a rejection - with no limit on the number of times they can request flexible arrangements.
Frances O’Grady - TUC General Secretary - said:
“During the pandemic, many people were able to work flexibly or from home for the first time. Staff and bosses both saw the benefits this flexibility can bring, but the current system is broken. A right to ask for flexible working is no right at all – especially when bosses can turn down requests with impunity.
Attitudes to all types of flexible working changed significantly in the pandemic. Ministers need to take advantage of this – and make sure all workers can get the flexible working they need.
Flexible working is how we keep mums in work and close the gender pay gap. It enables dads to spend more time with their kids. It helps disabled workers and carers stay in their jobs – and in employment.
Ministers must change the law - all jobs must be advertised with the possible flexible options clearly stated, and all workers must have the legal right to work flexibly from their first day in a job.”
