Source · Select Committees · Treasury Committee
Recommendation 14
14
Accepted in Part
Paragraph: 80
Encourage firms to advertise flexible and part-time roles to attract diverse talent.
Recommendation
We recommend that the Government and regulators encourage firms to advertise as many roles as possible to be available on flexible and part-time bases, as a way to attract and retain as wide a talent pool as possible, especially women.
Government Response Summary
The government previously decided against legislating to require employers to list flexible working opportunities in job adverts. Instead, it is actively promoting the 'Happy to Talk Flexible Working' initiative and notes that new legislation enabling employees to request flexible working from day one should encourage discussions.
Paragraph Reference:
80
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
The Government consulted on whether employers should be required to list the available flexible working opportunities in job adverts in 2019. Having reviewed consultation responses from a range of stakeholders and taken account of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government decided not to take forward a legislative requirement. Instead, we are giving employees the right to request flexible working from their first day of employment through regulations. This right came into force on 6 April 2024 and should encourage employers and employees to have conversations about flexible working during the recruitment process. In parallel with this, the Government, along with the Flexible Working Taskforce,1 is actively promoting “Happy to Talk Flexible Working” including through the Help to Grow website. This encourages employers to tell candidates that they are open to flexible working by using the Happy to Talk Flexible Working logo and strapline. The associated webpages take employers through a high level business case and provide simple advice on how to design and advertise a flexible job. More information on the implications of the legislative changes and the business case for flexible working can also be found on the Help to Grow website.