The government’s proposals to strengthen flexible working plans for employees has been slammed by the Trades Union Congress (TUC), which claims they do little to secure better conditions for staff.
Last week (September 23rd), the government announced every employee will be allowed to ask for flexible working arrangements, and the employer should propose alternatives if they are unable to agree to the request.
However, TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “The right to ask nicely is no right at all.”
She stated: “Under these plans employers will still have free rein to turn down all or any requests for flexible working.”
The proposals do not guarantee employees will be offered greater opportunities to have a better work-life balance, which is why Ms O’Grady thinks: “Ministers should change the law so that workers have the legal right to work flexibly from the first day in the job.”
She understands that not all jobs are able to offer every kind of flexible working arrangement, such as positions that require staff to be in the office meeting clients or working in the retail premises.
However, the TUC general secretary adds: “All jobs can support some kind of flexible working.”
According to a survey the TUC conducted in 2019, almost a third of requests for flexible working had been turned down.
In addition to this, flexitime is unavailable to 58 per cent of the UK workforce. This figure is as much as 64 per cent for working class employees.
The pandemic highlighted the success of working from home arrangements, staggered or compressed hours, with employees proving they are capable of meeting targets despite not being in the office.
Managing director of Experian UK & Ireland Jose Luiz Rossi stated: “We view the pandemic as an opportunity to adopt new ways of working where the majority of our workforce are given flexibility to work to a pattern that suits them regardless.”
Renting Liverpool office space could be the ideal solution for managers offering flexible arrangements, allowing staff to ‘hot desk’ on days they are not working from home.