Flexible Working

Flexible working helps more people access the labour market and stay in work, as more people are increasingly thinking differently about how, when and where they work. Quality flexible working can help organisations attract talent, improve employee job satisfaction and loyalty, reduce absenteeism and improve well-being. It can makes businesses more responsive to change.

The people profession has a key role to play in unlocking the full benefits of flexible and agile working. By effectively embedding, monitoring and evaluating flexible working provisions, we can improve work and working lives.

This is why the CIPD has been working with government and a range of stakeholders including business lobby organisations, professional bodies, unions and key charities as part of a Flexible Working Task Force. The establishment of the task force was in response to the Prime Minister’s challenge to business to improve workplace equality by advertising all jobs as flexible from Day one. Set up in early 2018 by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, it is due to run until Autumn 2019.

The task force aims to do a number of things:

• Clarify the benefits of flexible working
• Investigate the barriers that prevent employers from offering, and individuals taking up flexible working options
• Develop evidence and understanding of the most effective ways to increase provision and support
• Increase the number of flexible working opportunities available by drawing together action plans and recommendations
• Feed into the evaluation of the effectiveness of the Right to Request Flexible Working Regulations in 2019.

This hub provides a number of resources produced by both the CIPD and the Flexible Working Task Force to help you understand the benefits of flexible working and increase the opportunities available in your organisation.

Download the report and guidance below: