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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Flexible working rights extended to all | Flexible working rights extended to all |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Every employee now has the right to request flexible working hours after the government extended the right previously reserved for carers and those looking after children. | Every employee now has the right to request flexible working hours after the government extended the right previously reserved for carers and those looking after children. |
| As part of the right, employees can expect their request to be considered "in a reasonable manner" by employers. | As part of the right, employees can expect their request to be considered "in a reasonable manner" by employers. |
| The Department of Business, Innovation and Skills said 20 million people now had the right to ask to work flexibly. | The Department of Business, Innovation and Skills said 20 million people now had the right to ask to work flexibly. |
| Unions and employment groups welcomed the move. | Unions and employment groups welcomed the move. |
| The change in the law, which affects everyone with more than six months' service, comes less than a week after the government said it would ban employers from stopping staff with zero hours contracts - under which employees' hours are not guaranteed - seeking extra work elsewhere. | |
| 'Morale boost' | 'Morale boost' |
| The government expects the extension of flexible working rights to be of particular interest to older workers approaching retirement and to young workers looking for additional training while they work. | The government expects the extension of flexible working rights to be of particular interest to older workers approaching retirement and to young workers looking for additional training while they work. |
| "Modern businesses know that flexible working boosts productivity and staff morale, and helps them keep their top talent so that they can grow," said Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. | "Modern businesses know that flexible working boosts productivity and staff morale, and helps them keep their top talent so that they can grow," said Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. |
| "It's about time we brought working practices bang up-to-date with the needs, and choices, of our modern families." | "It's about time we brought working practices bang up-to-date with the needs, and choices, of our modern families." |
| The Chartered Institute of Personnel Development said the change in the law was recognition of the growing importance of flexible working for both employees and employers. | The Chartered Institute of Personnel Development said the change in the law was recognition of the growing importance of flexible working for both employees and employers. |
| "Employers increasingly recognise the strong business case for flexible working, including enhanced employee engagement and the attraction and retention of a more diverse workforce," said the institute's chief executive Susannah Clements. | "Employers increasingly recognise the strong business case for flexible working, including enhanced employee engagement and the attraction and retention of a more diverse workforce," said the institute's chief executive Susannah Clements. |
| The TUC welcomed the move, but said more needed to be done to ensure that employees' requests were given fair consideration. | The TUC welcomed the move, but said more needed to be done to ensure that employees' requests were given fair consideration. |
| "When you make a flexible working request you also need a fair hearing, so we should improve things further by giving people a right to challenge an employer's reason for rejecting a request," said the union's general secretary Frances O'Grady. | "When you make a flexible working request you also need a fair hearing, so we should improve things further by giving people a right to challenge an employer's reason for rejecting a request," said the union's general secretary Frances O'Grady. |
| However, while encouraging flexible working, one business group has expressed concerns about the additional administrative burden the right to request it might place on small businesses. | However, while encouraging flexible working, one business group has expressed concerns about the additional administrative burden the right to request it might place on small businesses. |
| The Federation of Small Businesses has said the right can introduce a "negative dynamic" into the workplace, particularly in the case of unsuccessful requests. | The Federation of Small Businesses has said the right can introduce a "negative dynamic" into the workplace, particularly in the case of unsuccessful requests. |
| Will you be requesting to work flexible hours? If you are an employer, how would flexible working affect your business? You can send your comments to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the title 'flexible hours' in the subject heading. |