FLEXIBLE WORKING HOURS FOR ALL IN BRITAIN

The British government has declared today that all employees now have the right to flexible working hours, a right that used to be for only carers and those minding children. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills announced that 20 million people now have the right to ask to work flexibly if they have worked for at least 26 weeks. They are advised to put this request in writing to their employers. 

Those who greatly benefit from this are the older workers and young workers who wish to go for additional training while they work. The Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg said "It's about time we brought working practices bang up-to-date with the needs, and choices, of our modern families." The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) however expressed concerns about the additional administrative burden the right to request flexible working might place on small businesses. They reckon the right could introduce a "negative dynamic" into the workplace, especially when requests are unsuccessful.