New calls for extension of right to request

The right to request flexible working arrangements should be extended, it has been claimed.

According to comments made by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), the right to work flexibly should be extended beyond existing arrangements and offered to non-parents.

However, data released by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform already shows that a majority (95 per cent) of firms offer some form of flexible working to their employees.

"Our research into employee engagement shows flexible workers are happier workers, and happier workers are more motivated to achieve results for their employers," said Mike Emmott, employee relations adviser at the CIPD.

"We wholly support moves to extend the ‘right to request’ to more parents. But the government should be bolder still and extend the right to all workers," he added.

The CIPD believes the UK government is slow to modify flexible working arrangements out of a fear that organisations such as the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) will be upset.

The CBI represents businesses in the UK on issues relating to both domestic and international affairs.