Recommendation 33

HM Government · verbatim extract Accepted

The Government welcomes the Committee’s acknowledgement of our support for the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill. We recognise the benefits flexible working can bring and we are committed to supporting individuals and businesses to find flexible work arrangements that work for both sides. That is why, alongside the Bill, we also intend, through regulations, to make the right to request flexible working apply from the first day of employment. The right to request flexible working is not a “right to decline”. Under the current legislation an employer is obliged to accept a flexible working request unless there are good business reasons for rejecting it. There are many types of flexibility that can help employees manage their lives and flexibility is not simply the ability to work from home. Not all types of flexible working are available in all jobs—for example, working from home is not an option for most nurses. It is right that employer can turn down particular flexible working arrangements where they are impractical. The Government welcomes the fact that the Committee has taken the opportunity to encourage employers to specify, when advertising job vacancies, that a role may be suitable for flexible working. Research conducted by the Behavioural Insights Team has shown that offering flexible working can attract up to 30% more applicants to job vacancies13 In 2019, we consulted on whether employers should be required to do this. 13 Behavioural Insights Team Research https://www.bi.team/blogs/bits-biggest-trial-so-far-encourages-more- flexible-jobs-and-applications/ Post-pandemic economic growth: UK labour markets: Government Response 23 response from those employers we were most looking to influence—those not culturally ready would simply default to “no”. The Government will therefore continue to encourage employers to advertise jobs flexibly on a voluntary basis, where this reflects a genuine offer of flexibility. The Government will continue to promote this business case in collaboration with stakeholders on the Flexible Working Taskforce. The Civil Service leads by example in this area by encouraging flexible working and offering a range of flexible working options as part of the total reward package.