(Cab Office) Harman: 4.5 million more Mums and Dads to benefit from new flexible working rights

From today (Monday 6th April 2009) an extra 4.5million parents of children aged 16 and under will be able to request flexible working from their employer. This is in addition to the six million parents and carers who already have the right.

New research shows half of working parents (51 per cent) say their relationship with their child would improve if they could work flexibly.

The survey, commissioned by the Government Equalities Office, shows that two-thirds of working parents state it would be helpful to work flexibly as their children get older. Half of parents of 11-16 year olds said that they would help with homework if they could find the time. More than half (53 per cent) feel their job prevents them spending the amount of time they would like with their children.

Talking to parents at Sainsburys in Dulwich, Harriet Harman, Minister for Women and Equality, said:

"Children don't stop needing their parents' time when they reach their sixth birthday. We have already built a strong foundation of support for families through the right for parents with children under six to request flexible work. But, as any parent knows, older children going through the teenage years need just as much support and guidance.

"Families are the framework of our lives and matter not just to individuals but to our communities, the economy, and society as a whole. Mothers often tear their hair out trying to balance earning a living with bringing up their children and need more flexibility at work. And fathers want to be able to play a bigger part in bringing up their children.

"This is why we have changed the law to extend flexible working rights to parents of older children. We will continue to work with business to ensure that families continue to have real choices about how they live their lives, at the same time as making the economy strong and competitive."

The survey shows that parents see the business benefits of flexible working, with three in five (59 per cent) saying it would improve staff morale, two in five (40 per cent) working mums believing flexible working would reduce absenteeism, and more than a quarter saying it would improve staff retention and attract talented staff. Recognised business benefits of flexible working also include increased productivity and recruitment savings.

However the 'fear factor' still needs to be tackled - the survey shows two thirds of parents were concerned about putting in a request to work flexibly, with a third (32 per cent) thinking it may mark them as uncommitted to their job, and nearly a quarter (23 per cent) concerned it may affect their promotion prospects.

Damion Queva, publisher of FQ (Fathers Quarterly) magazine and father of two, said: "As a dad it's so important to get as much time with the family as you can and that doesn't change as your children get older. As an employer running a small business, I find that allowing staff to work flexibly increases morale and enhances productivity. It also means I can hold on to my best people and not lose them just because they've become a parent. For me, flexible working is a win-win situation."

Fathers offer vital support to their children, not just homework, but on emotional matters such as bullying or avoiding bad behaviour. Requesting flexible working builds in father's ability to provide this support when their children need it most. Children with more closely involved dads develop better friendships, more empathy, and higher levels of educational achievement and self-esteem. And dads who are able to work flexibly and spend more time with their children are more likely to be happier, have a stronger family life, and consequently be more productive.

Flexible working by both parents can also allow the mother to return to the workplace and reduce the imbalance in the split of labour in the home. Nearly half (46 per cent) of working mums say that working flexibly would reduce stress for them, compared with 33 per cent of dads.

Sarah Jackson, CEO of Working Families said:

"It is great that parents of older children will have the opportunity to request flexible working. The conflict that often seems to exist between family and work is so unnecessary and counterproductive. I would particularly encourage men to consider working flexibly as that has the potential to create stronger families and go some way to addressing the inequalities that still exist in the home".

The right to request flexible working has been a success since it was introduced in 2003, helping many people to balance work and family life, and allowing businesses to benefit from improved morale, increased productivity, and reduced absence and staff turnover.

Last year an independent review by Sainsbury's Human Resources Director Imelda Walsh recommended that the right to request should be extended to parents of children aged 16 and under.

The survey showed that nearly half (45 per cent) of people who put in a request to work flexibly did not seek advice first. Direct.gov is one of the best resources, providing a one stop shop with information on flexible working and the law, plus advice on building a case and standard application forms: http://www.direct.gov.uk - click on 'employment' then 'parental leave and flexible working'.

For advice on particular circumstances, parents can call the Working Families free advice line on 0800 013 0313, email advice@workingfamilies.org.uk or download free fact sheets from http://www.workingfamilies.org.uk

The new law explained

* From 6 April 2009, all parents of children aged 16 and under will have the right to ask their employer for flexible working arrangements. Employees need to have worked for their employer for 26 weeks.

* A total of around 10 million people will now be entitled to request flexible working

* This new rule is an extension of the current right to request flexible working which applies to parents of children up to six, parents of disabled children up to 18, as well as carers of adults.

* Under the law employers must seriously consider all applications made, and only reject it if there is a good business reasons for doing so.

* This does not give employees the right to work flexibly - just the right to ask.

* Flexible working is any working pattern that is adapted for the benefit of the individual and that also suits their employer. Examples include: part-time, flexi-time, compressed hours, staggered hours, job sharing, and working from home.

A step by step guide on how to request flexible working:

* Fill in an application form. Your employer may provide one, there's a standard form available at http://www.direct.gov.uk, or all required information can be put in a letter or email.

* Your employer should then arrange a meeting with you within 28 days to discuss your application.

* Within 14 days, you should receive written notification of your employer's decision.

* If your request is accepted you will need to meet with your employer to agree the new working arrangements.

* If your request is rejected you may appeal in writing.