Fewer managers, at just under a quarter, also said that they wouldn’t be able implement flexible working at their company following the pandemic.

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) is calling for the government to allow flexibility in every job with a new obligation for employers to include flexible working in all job adverts and to give every worker the right to work flexibility.

Consequently, job adverts would have to have details about potential flexible working arrangement such as flexi-time, compressed hours, part-time hours, term-time only hours, job-shares, home or remote working, or predictable shifts.

Around 62 per cent of HR managers said it would be easy to include specific information about home or remote working options available in job adverts or were already including it.

However, the TUC noted that despite growing support for flexible working only around a quarter of jobs were advertised with flexible work options.

TUC’s general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “During the pandemic, many people were able to work flexibly or from home for the first time. Staff and bosses both saw the benefits this flexibility can bring.

“But the current system is broken. A right to ask for flexible working is no right at all – especially when bosses can turn down requests with impunity.”

She added: “Attitudes to all types of flexible working changed significantly in the pandemic. Ministers need to take advantage of this – and make sure all workers can get the flexible working they need.

“Flexible working is how we keep mums in work and close the gender pay gap. It enables dads to spend more time with their kids. It helps disabled workers and carers stay in their jobs – and in employment.

“Ministers must change the law: all jobs must be advertised with the possible flexible options clearly stated, and all workers must have the legal right to work flexibly from their first day in a job.”