Equality campaigners and union chiefs have hit out at ‘relentless scare-mongering’ from those who argue flexible employment conditions will harm businesses
A coalition of unions has called for the end of “the witch-hunt” against flexible working in a fierce defence of Labour’s new employment laws.
Equality campaigners and union chiefs have hit out at “relentless scare-mongering” from those who argue flexible employment conditions will harm businesses. Organisations including the TUC, Age UK, the Fawcett Society and Pregnant Then Screwed, have warned firms to listen to evidence proving flexible working helps businesses amid swirling political opposition to Labour’s efforts to improve workers’ rights.
They said workers are leaving in their droves due to a lack of flexible working as they pointed to staffing crises across health, education and social care industries. They emphasised that flexible working is not only working from home but can also mean stable and predictable shift patterns for people who need to do the school run, or compressed hours for those who may need an extra day at home to care for loved ones.
Their joint statement highlighted that an estimated four million people have changed careers due to a lack of flexibility at work, according to research published last year by the Charter Institute of Professional Development. The warning from unions and campaigners comes after Kemi Badenoch triggered a row over maternity pay at the Conservative Party conference last week.
The Tory leadership candidate claimed maternity pay and minimum wage are “overburdening businesses” and causing them to shut down. Deputy PM Angela Rayner who has championed workers’ rights reforms will table Labour’s Employment Rights Bill on Thursday.
The legislation, which is part of Labour’s New Deal for Working People, will seek to end fire and rehire tactics, ban zero hours contracts, increase minimum wage and make flexible working a day one right.
Currently staff can request flexible working arrangements, such as compressed hours, but bosses can say no. Under Labour’s changes chiefs would be expected to grant requests unless it is not “reasonably practicable” because of the type of job.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has also been a staunch advocate for flexible working which he has said could reduce regional inequality and boost productivity. It is a clear shift from the Tories, who were focused on forcing people back into the office. Mr Reynolds described former Tory minister Jacob Rees-Mogg’s “war on people working from home” as “bizarre” in an interview last month.
In the joint statement, the unions and equality 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.”
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak added: “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.”
A DBT spokeswoman said: “Employees who have greater flexibility in their work are more likely to stay in their job and have greater job satisfaction. However, it’s not about a one size fits all approach. That’s why we’re working hand in hand with both business and unions to ensure we get the balance right for workers and businesses.”
