Almost
two-thirds of UK businesses have failed to put a flexible working employment
policy in place, despite new Flexible Working Regulations coming into this
month.
A
survey of 100 HR professionals by recruitment consultancy Crone Corkill, finds
that more than half of those interviewed believe the issue of flexible working
is not even on their board’s agenda. The majority of businesses (77 per cent),
however, are expecting between one to 10 requests as a result of the new
legislation.
From
this month, parents with children under the age of six (and disabled children
under 18), have the right to request changes to the hours they work, the times
they work or location of their work. All employers, including small businesses,
will be obliged to seriously consider any requests for flexible working.
The
survey also shows that one in four businesses plan to extend the policy to
non-parents.
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Maureen
Reeves, operations director of Crone Corkill said: "With the introduction
of flexible working now upon us, we were surprised that so many businesses
still had no policy in place."
