The Government seems determined to move swiftly forward with proposals to extend the right to request flexible working to parents of older children. First, it announced in the DBERR’s annual statement of forthcoming legislation that the extension will happen in October 2008 or April 2009 [subscription required]. And now it has issued questionnaires for employers and employees [subscription required] wishing to make their views known to the independent review being carried out.
The short employer questionnaire ask employers whether or not they have declined formal requests for flexible working and, if so, what the reasons for these were; what disadvantages and benefits they see in granting requests; and, of course, how far the right should be extended to parents of older children.
Employees are asked similar questions, including whether or not they have ever made a request to work flexibly and, if refused, what business reasons the employer gave. Employees are also asked what disadvantages and benefits they see in flexible working and how far the right should be extended to parents of older children.
The initial proposal was made in November 2007. If the changes do come into force in October 2008, this would be a remarkably short period from proposal to implementation, even given that the changes are not technically complicated.
However, in terms of the administrative burden on HR departments, the earlier implementation date may actually be preferable. There aren’t any other major employment changes planned for this October. If the legislation comes into force in April 2009, employers could face having to prepare for three major changes to legislation in the same month: the increase in the statutory minimum holiday entitlement from 4.8 weeks to 5.6 weeks; the new system of dispute resolution; and the flexible working extension.
The questionnaires are available on the DBERR’s website.
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