New campaign launched to expose lack of flexible working opportunities

As many as 46% of employees have reported that they don’t currently have flexible working arrangements, such as flexi-time, part-time working, compressed hours or job shares.

As a result of these findings, the CIPD is launching a new campaign called #FlexFrom1st, with the aim to encourage employers to support flexible working for all and the right to request flexible working from day one of employment.

To reinforce these principles, the CIPD is also calling for a change in law to make the right to request flexible working a day-one right for all employees.

The survey of 2,000 employees found that despite the pandemic driving remote working, 44% of employees have not worked from home at all since the beginning of the crisis, with the majority (92%) saying that this is because the nature of their job doesn’t allow them to do so.

Peter Cheese, Chief Executive of the CIPD, said, “While many have hailed the pandemic as a driver for the adoption of flexible working practices, particularly around home working, the reality for many is that this is not the case. We need a new understanding about what flexible working is and we need employers to embrace flexible working arrangements beyond home working, to give opportunity and choice to all. Employees may not always be able to change where they work, but they should have more choice and a say in when and how they work.

“Being able to build in flexible working arrangements, such as changes to hours, term-time working or job shares, will empower people to have greater control and flexibility in their working life. This is good for inclusion and opening up opportunities to people who have other constraints in being able to work standard hour weeks or in getting to a place of work. But it’s also good for people’s wellbeing and productivity. Fairness of opportunity in working flexibly ensures organisations do not end up with divisions or a two-tier workforce.”

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