Benchmarking flexible working arrangements in 2013

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Flexible working policies are widespread but not yet universal in 2013, latest XpertHR benchmarking research finds. 

The Government proposes to extend the right to request flexible working to all employees from spring 2014

Consequently, some UK employers will need to review their policies over the coming months. 

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Latest XpertHR benchmarking research provides key insights into UK employers' flexible working arrangements and their views on the Government's plans. The survey is based on responses from 144 organisations with a combined workforce of 540,049 employees. 

Access the survey findings:

Flexible working policies not yet universal

The survey finds that flexible working policies are widespread in 2013, but not yet universal:

  • Eight employers in 10 have a written policy on flexible working in place. 
  • By sector, this figure rises to nine in 10 public-sector employers, but it falls back sharply in the private sector. 

From which employee groups will UK employers consider flexible working requests?

  • Three-quarters of employers will consider requests from all employees. 
  • One in five will only consider requests from employees who have a statutory right to request flexible working. 

Part-time hours are most popular arrangement

The most popular flexible working arrangements are:

  • part-time hours, operated by nearly all respondents;
  • variable start/finish times, used by four-fifths; and
  • temporarily reduced hours, at four-fifths. 

Problems and benefits

XpertHR asked UK employers about the pros and cons of flexible working arrangements:

Planned 2014 extension of right to request flexible working

Nearly half of UK employers think next year's planned extension of the right to request flexible working to all employees will have no impact on the number of flexible working requests received. 

A further two-fifths expect the number of flexible working requests to increase slightly, while one in 10 expects a "considerable" increase. 

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Michael Carty, benchmarking editor

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