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 CIPD PRESS RELEASES
Tuesday 04 December 2007
Government right to highlight decline in 9 to 5
working - but benefits should not be restricted
to working parents
New research published today by the Department for
Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR)
is right to highlight the rise in flexible working,
and right to credit the light-touch 'right to request"
legislation as playing a part in the rise.
However, the government is also guilty of moving
slowly for fear of upsetting the likes of the
CBI, and risks exacerbating divisions between
parents and non-parents in the workplace if they
refuse to extend the 'right to request' to all,
according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel
and Development (CIPD).
Commenting on new research from BERR showing that
95% of employers offer some form of flexible working
for staff, Mike Emmott, Employee Relations Adviser
at the CIPD, said:
"These findings confirm our own research. Flexible
working is on the rise, as growing numbers of
employers look for new ways to compete to attract
the best people and keep them engaged and motivated.
"Our research into employee engagement shows
flexible workers are happier workers, and happier
workers are more motivated to achieve results
for their employers.
"The government can rightly claim credit for the
light-touch 'right to request' legislation that
has encouraged employers to consider employee
requests without the need to wield the big stick
of compulsion. However, it is a shame that a
desire to appease the most vocal in the business
lobby has led them to move so slowly on extending
the right beyond parents of the youngest children.
"We wholly support moves to extend the 'right
to request' to more parents. But the government
should be bolder still and extend the right to
all workers. The danger with ever larger groups
of people entitled to request flexible working,
and a smaller number not entitled to do so, is
that divisions will grow up in the workplace.
"Many enlightened employers already allow
employees to work flexibly regardless of their
family status. An extension of the right to
request to all workers would level the playing
field, without compelling employers to offer
flexible working where this is incompatible
with business needs. Our research shows that
it would also deliver improved employee
engagement, and therefore contribute to
boosting productivity."
Notes to editors:
* Mike Emmott is available for interview.
* For more details of the CIPD's extensive research
into employee engagement and flexible working visit
http://www.cipd.co.uk/research or members of the
media can call 020 8612 6400 to find out more.
* The Chartered Institute of Personnel and
Development (CIPD) has over 130,000 members
and is the leading professional institute for
those involved in the management and development
of people.
Press enquiries:
Robert Blevin / Gerwyn Davies / Hannah Smith
/ Meera Vohora
CIPD Press Office
151 The Broadway, London SW19 1JQ
Tel: 020 8612 6400
Mobile: 07793 256 763
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