Cameron Pledge on Flexible Working

Speaking at the launch of the Equal Opportunities Commission's "Transformation of Work" report, David Cameron promised that the right to request flexible working would be extended to all parents. He suggested that would be only a first step, saying his goal was for flexible working to be available to "as many people as possible".

Mr Cameron said that firms risked failure unless they allowed more staff to work part-time, from home or in a job share. If they remained rigid in their working practices, firms would deter women, older people and those who had other commitments, cutting themselves off from a "vast talent pool". He said flexible working improved productivity, reduced absenteeism and staff turnover and was also good for the environment because it cut down on the number of commuters.

While he didn't go so far as to pledge the right to request for all workers, he did say that he wouldn't rule it out. "Legislation isn't the only answer," Cameron said. "We need to encourage best practice and encourage a great culture shift. Legislation is one of the tools at our disposal." The legal right to request flexible working is currently available for six million carers and parents of small children.

His promise to extend the right to flexible working came as the EOC claimed that the UK was lagging behind its European competitors on this issue. It said too many employees were stuck in a culture of long hours and "presenteeism" - hanging around in the office but not doing much. Most people still had fixed hours of work despite the benefits reported by "trailblazing employers" who offered flexible working

The EOC's report found that despite the growth in flexible working, the UK is lagging behind its European competitors, with 20% of UK employers offering remote teleworking, compared with 40% in Germany, Sweden and Denmark.