Flexible Working Taskforce
Providing resources produced by both the CIPD and the Flexible Working Taskforce to help you understand the benefits of flexible working and increase the opportunities available in your organisation

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 Taskforce.
The establishment of the taskforce was in response to then-Prime Minister Theresa May’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 (BEIS), it initially ran until Autumn 2019.
The taskforce’s aims were 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
- Understanding and supporting the change to ‘hybrid’ and other ways of working which are emerging because of the pandemic.
- Longer term, understanding whether there is more to be done to promote ‘ad hoc’ or ‘non-contractual’ flexible working.
Effective hybrid working: practical guidance
Guidance commissioned by the CIPD on behalf of the Flexible Working Taskforce
Flexible working in the UK
This policy report examines evidence on the progress of flexible working in the UK, summarises and comments on the main findings and sets out policy recommendations
Flexible working uptake
Explore the CIPD’s point of view on flexible working, including actions for Government and recommendations for employers
Flex From 1st
Flexible working. A day-one right to request. For everyone.
Cross-sector insights on enabling flexible working
Research-backed guidance with cross-sector examples on ways to implement flexible working