With a day for most occasions, it may have passed you by that apparently Wednesday 6th May was Flexible Working Awareness Day. It was publicised as the day where employers could showcase the progress they had made in flexible working and the benefits that this brought to the business. There was no mad rush to gain publicity so perhaps it passed many by or with the General Election campaign winding down everyone had that on their minds.
Flexible working was introduced some years ago and the rights had gradually been extended. Some employers now recognise that work is output based and it can often matter less when or where the work is done as long as it gets done. For some flexible working is about hours to get a work life balance and for others it is about the location choosing to shun the traditional 5 day office based week with the long hours. Of course flexible working is now available to all employees with 26 week’s service. Gone are the caring or parental criteria. I know many who don’t have these responsibilities but want to achieve that elusive work life balance and spend more time pursuing other interests whether sport based or just recreational.
It takes a cultural shift in thinking to truly achieve and whilst the law has changed, in many industries change will take longer to happen as attitudes gradually change.
Written by
Edward Aston
3rd June 2015