Source · Select Committees · Treasury Committee
Recommendation 12
12
Accepted
Paragraph: 78
Hybrid working risks women's career progression without cultural change and equal treatment.
Conclusion
There are also risks that women lose out on promotion or pay progression possibilities if the change in practice towards hybrid and remote working is not accompanied with a change in the culture of firms and the mindset of managers towards ensuring equal opportunity and treatment between those who work more of their hours at home and those who work more in the office.
Government Response Summary
The government agreed with the risks identified and highlighted the Flexible Working Act 2023 and Carers’ Leave Act 2023 as already addressing related issues. It also noted its consultation proposals encourage firms to identify and address barriers, potentially including flexible working initiatives.
Paragraph Reference:
78
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
We agree with the Committee that firms’ policies on parental leave and flexible working could help firms improve diversity and inclusion. We also note the changes to Flexible Working Act 2023 and the Carers’ Leave Act 2023 which came into force 6 April 2024 and which will assist many with improved flexible working and caring responsibilities. In developing our consultation proposals, we were nevertheless careful to focus on the outcomes that we expect firms to deliver rather than specifying how firms should look to make improvements, so that firms could choose the interventions that were most likely to improve outcomes for their own situation. The proposals within the CP made it clear that firms should examine their own data to see whether or not any barriers exist to securing benefits from enhanced diversity and inclusion and that, where such barriers are found, they should then identify and target interventions accordingly–potentially including flexible working initiatives. That said, we will support industry and Government where a regulatory view is needed.