Over 4m more UK workers given right to demand flexible working
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New law allows parents of children under 16 the right to request flexible working
A new law introduced in the UK today allows parents of children aged under 16 to ask for flexible working. It is estimated that the law adds a further 4.5 million workers to the number that are eligible for flexible working by law.
The law may require more IT departments to offer mobile and remote working services. However, as Information Age’s Effective IT 2009 Survey found, that is already a commonly deployed IT strategy. Over 80% of 355 respondents to the survey reported that they had ‘encouraged/supported remote or mobile working’, more than any other strategy.
Previously, the law extended the right to those employees with children under six. “Children don't stop needing their parents' time when they reach their sixth birthday. As any parent knows, older children going through the teenage years need just as much support and guidance,” said MP Harriet Harman.
A government report accompanying the new law found that around 60% of working parents believe flexible working improves morale.
Inevitably, businesses are feeling the squeeze of the credit crunch. But rather than add to the stress, remote working can bring tremendous business benefits, improving work/life balance and performance as it reduces travel costs for employees and drives up job satisfaction at a time when maintaining good morale is vital.
Employee panic regarding ‘presenteeism’ ie, being seen to be in the office in order to avoid redundancy, is counterproductive to the sensitive navigation of any economic downturn. Remote working should be encouraged in order to keep costs to a minimum and maximise moral and it is the job of the employer to reassure staff that this is the case.
The absence of the daily commute alone is benefitting the environment, saving money and improving staff satisfaction. The new law will force those businesses still reluctant to see the true pluses to allowing staff to work remotely to reconsider their options. If there is any investment to be made this year, it should be in wise IT procurement facilitating remote working to fully utilise IT. Employers should be reassuring their staff that results are what matter in this climate – not panicked appearances in the office which could actually fuel an already stressful environment.
A recent survey found that 81% of employees rated flexible working as ‘important’ or ‘very important’, a statistic that comes as no surprise when the average daily commute is 54 minutes. Furthermore, research has shown that if employees were to work from home just one day a week, the UK’s total CO2 emissions would be reduced by 1%. Satisfied staff are less likely to leave an organisation, therefore improving retention, saving recruitment costs and increasing the overall productivity of the company.
Joanna Sedley-Burke
Report this comment »Business Development Director
Sovereign Business Integration
www.sovereign-plc.co.uk