A joint statement released today has been signed by organisations and campaigners including the TUC, Age UK, the Fawcett Society, Anna Whitehouse (founder of Flex Appeal) and Pregnant Then Screwed. The statement warns of a “witch hunt” against workers being able to work more flexibly.
The intervention comes as the Government prepares to publish its Employment Rights Bill, which is expected to enhance existing rights to flexible working.
Highlighting the ongoing briefing against flexible working, the organisations said: “It’s time to stop the witch hunt against flexible working. In recent weeks, we have seen relentless scaremongering about how new legislation on flexible working will harm UK businesses and productivity. These warnings couldn’t be further from the truth.”
Pointing to the recruitment and retention problems facing employers, the organisations said: “There are 800,000 fewer people in the workforce than before the pandemic, and one of the biggest issues facing employers is recruiting and retaining skilled staff.
“Look at our public services. In the midst of a staffing crisis, health, education and social care workers are leaving due to a lack of flexibility.
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“This is not an isolated example. Research published by the Charter Institute of Professional Development last year found that an estimated four million people have changed careers due to a lack of flexibility at work. Flexible working can bring more people back into the labour market and keep them there.”
Criticising the bad faith nature of the attacks on flexible working, the organisations said: “Some have tried to claim flexible working is just about working from home. But there are… many different forms of flexible working. For some people, it means stable and predictable shift patterns so they can do the school run. For others, it means compressed hours to allow for an extra day at home to care for loved ones. And for some, it’s a job share to allow time for study alongside work.
“This is about developing patterns of work needed for a modern economy and a modern workforce. Flexible working is good for workers, good for employers and good for growth.”
Paul Nowak, the TUC’s general secretary, said: “Flexible working – and in particular working from home – is being misrepresented to attack the Government’s wider plan to Make Work Pay. It’s time we called it out.
“Improving access to flexible working will benefit workers and businesses, whether it’s through increasing staff productivity or higher retention. And the same is true of improving workers’ rights across the piece.
“When people feel secure and respected at work, they have happier, healthier lives and perform better in their jobs.”
Jemima Olchawski, chief executive of the Fawcett Society, said: “We have to ask who benefits from parroting the fallacy that flexible working and flexible workers are bad for business – it’s just nonsense.
“What really holds growth back is rigid, outdated work practices that exclude women, older workers, and those managing health conditions. Offering flexible working options increases the talent pool and enables more people to work.
“While that may threaten those who are happy to maintain the status quo, it can only be good for our economy. We need to see all jobs advertised as flexible by default.”
Related: Employee productivity flatlined in first quarter of 2024
