Forum Brief: Flexible working hours

A third of employees would opt for flexible working hours over a £1000 pay rise, a survey has found.

Responding to the research, conducted by the recruitment website Reed.co.uk, trade secretary Patricia Hewitt said that "getting a better work-life balance is becoming much more important for all employees - men as much as women - and the competitive advantages business gains from offering flexible working are now well established".

Forum Response: UNIFI

A spokeswoman for UNIFI told ePolitix.com: "Finance union UNIFI will continue to push employers to adopt more flexible working hours. Finance sector workers already work longer and unpaid hours in order to keep up with heavy workloads caused by staff shortages and unreasonable targets.

"This recent survey shows that family-friendly rights are a high priority in the UK workforce and we will keep on pushing employers on this issue."

Forum Response: Institute of Directors

Ruth Lea, head of the IoD's policy unit said: "This is the thin edge of the wedge. Companies are already working with staff to provide flexible working - the UK already has the best record in Europe but there has to be a limit.

"This new red tape burden could well drag small businesses into hundreds more tribunal cases. By making flexible working a 'right' you raise peoples' expectations. If their request is turned down, there is the added risk of confrontation - it is not good for business at a time when things are very tough."

Forum Response: Disability Rights Commission

Agnes Fletcher, assistant director of public affairs at the Disability Rights Commission, told ePolitix.com: "The DRC believe that flexible working will help many parents of disabled children to continue to work and avoid being forced into unemployment.

"Flexible working also benefits several people who want to work and in recent DRC research, it was cited by small employers as a way of retaining employees who had recently become disabled."