Although there were, for a time, talks about postponing the plan to extend cases where employees can request the right to flexible working time, the government confirmed, during the amended Queen's speech in early December, that it was going to go through with this plan, despite the economic crisis. (Ref. 081019)
Background: In April 2003, the government introduced the
right of parents of a child under six years old, or parents of a disabled child
under 18 years to request flexible working, with a statutory obligation for
employers to take such requests seriously. Some 91% of UK requests for flexible
working arrangements last year were approved, according to government figures.
However, the seemingly arbitrary cut-off to parents of a child under six years
old is a long-standing complaint of unions, and
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