The results also show that 43% are currently occasionally allowed the right to request flexible working when it is needed.
Of the 293 polled, fewer than 10% of respondents said flexible working was part of their contract.
Diana Bruce , Senior Policy Liaison Officer at the CIPP, said: “The Modern Workplaces consultation published in May 2011 includes proposals to extend the right to request flexible working to all employees which would certainly give those who would like the chance to work more flexibly to at least have the opportunity to make a request. However, when the changes to legislation do take place, it should be remembered that it will remain a right to request, as opposed to any kind of right to work flexibly.”
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She added: “The consultation also proposes a system of flexible parental leave and, cost allowing, the government hope to have this in place from 2015 so in the meantime their challenge is to make a compelling case for the new culture of workplace flexibility to facilitate the proposals.
“Extending the right to request flexible working to all certainly contributes to this aim and businesses could well benefit rather than seeing the change as another administrative process. The right will facilitate the conversation between employer and employee which otherwise may never have taken place and if negotiated properly could help retain skilled staff, increase commitment and loyalty to the company which in turn can only be a positive move for the productivity of the business.”
