‘Offer flexible working from first day on the job’

PEOPLE should have the right to flexible working from day one in a job, according to campaigners.

They argue the huge switch to working from home during the pandemic has laid bare the lack of opportunities for millions of staff.

A survey of more than 2,000 employees found almost half do not have the option of flexitime, parttime working, compressed hours or job share.The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), which commissioned the research, is now calling for a change in the law to make requesting flexible working a day-one right for all.

The survey suggests that Covid has propelled millions to work from home yet more than two in five have not done so.

Most said that is due to the nature of their job. But a fifth of people said their company does not offer any kind of flexible working.

Peter Cheese, chief executive of the CIPD, said: “While many have hailed the pandemic as a driver for the adoption of flexible working practices, particularly around home working, the reality for many is that this is not the case.

“We need a new understanding about what flexible working is and we need employers to embrace flexible working beyond home working, to give opportunity and choice to all.

“Employees may not always be able to change where they work, but they should have more choice – and a say in when and how they work.

“Being able to build in flexible working arrangements, such as changes to hours, term-time working or job shares, will empower people to have greater control and flexibility in their working life.”

The CIPD, which represents people working in human resources, called for firms to implement policies allowing staff to request flexible working from day one of employment. It is also calling for job ads to make clear if roles are flexible.