Workers have a more significant say over when, where, and how they work under new government plans to make flexible working the default.
- Millions of employees will receive day one right to request flexible working, empowering workers to have a greater say over when, where, and how they work
- businesses set to benefit from higher productivity and staff retention as a result
- around 1.5 million low-paid workers will be given even more flexibility, with the new law coming into force to remove exclusivity clause restrictions, allowing them to work for multiple employers if they wish
Millions of employees will be able to request flexible working from day one of their employment under new government plans to make flexible working the default.
Flexible working doesn’t just mean working from home and in the office – it can mean employees making use of job-sharing, flexitime, and working compressed, annualised, or staggered hours.
The raft of new measures will give employees greater flexibility over where, when, and how they work, leading to happier, more productive staff. Flexible working has been found to help employees balance their work and home life, especially supporting those with commitments or responsibilities such as caring for children or vulnerable people.
Alongside the clear benefits to employees, there is also a strong business case for flexible working. By removing some of the invisible restrictions to jobs, flexible working creates a more diverse working environment and workforce, which studies have shown leads to improved financial returns.
Today’s announcement comes alongside new laws allowing Britain’s lowest-paid workers to work more flexibly and boost their income through extra work.
Minister for Small Business Kevin Hollinrake said:
Giving staff more say over their working pattern makes for happier employees and more productive businesses. Put simply, it’s a no-brainer.
Greater flexibility over where, when, and how people work is an integral part of our plan to make the UK the best place in the world to work.
Workers on contracts with a guaranteed weekly income on or below the Lower Earnings Limit of £123 a week will now be protected from exclusivity clauses being enforced against them, restricting them from working for multiple employers.
These reforms will ensure around 1.5 million low-paid workers can make the most of the opportunities available, such as working multiple short-term contracts. This will particularly benefit those who need more flexibility over where and when they work, for example, students or people with caring responsibilities.
While not everyone will want a second job, today’s laws on exclusivity clauses remove unnecessary red tape that prevents those who do – for example, gig economy workers, younger people, or carers who cannot commit to a full-time role. The laws will also help businesses plug crucial staffing gaps by allowing employers to recruit from a wider talent pool.
If an employer cannot accommodate a request to work flexibly, they will be required to discuss alternative options before they can reject the bid. For example, if it is impossible to change an employee’s working hours on all days, they could consider changing for certain days instead.
The new legislation, backed by the government’s response to the Making flexible working the default consultation, will also remove the requirement for employees to set out the effects of their flexible working requests to employers, removing a large administrative burden for both sides.
The ‘Making flexible working the default’ consultation recognised that flexible working is different for every employee, employer, and sector – it does not come in one size only. Office workers may benefit from a job share to better care for their children, or factory workers may request different shift patterns that suit their balance between home and work. Because of this, the government will not instruct employers or employees on how to carry out their work. Instead, we encourage both parties to have constructive and open-minded conversations about flexible working and find arrangements for each side.
