Legislation Needed To Give Workers Confidence To Request Flexible Hours

“Legislation is needed to send a clear message to workers that it’s okay to put your hand up and request flexible working hours, and that your employer will need to consider that request seriously,” CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said today.

“Business New Zealand has said this morning that they see a culture of flexibility and give and take among employers and employees,” Carol Beaumont said.  “That is great to hear, but it doesn’t match up with recent research and consultation on this matter in New Zealand.

“Research has shown that fear, real or perceived, is a major difficulty workers face when asking for flexible work, making it hard for them to approach their manager or organisation.”

“There are also significant fairness problems in the availability of work life balance initiatives in New Zealand workplaces, with a major survey last year showing initiatives were most likely to be offered to senior staff or management.”

“In the UK there is a high level of satisfaction from employers and employees about the right to request flexible working hours, to the point where only 10% of requests for flexible work are turned down by employers,” Carol Beaumont said.  “Legislation has been effective in increasing the awareness of the ability to request flexible work.”

“Flexible working hours is necessary to respond to changes in society and at work and to help facilitate the widest possible participation in the workforce,” Carol Beaumont said.