Business secretary John Hutton said last week that flexible workingrights will be extended to parents with children under 16 years old fromnext April, once they have been in a job for six months. Under currentregulations only parents of children under six have the right to requestflexible working.
Flexible working arrangements include part-time work, compressed hoursor flexi-time.
Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of the National Day NurseriesAssociation, said, 'This way of working can have a real bonus for thenursery and encourage increased flexibility in return from staff.However, it can be a challenging way of working, and it is importantthat a nursery has a clear policy about flexible working and plans aheadas far as possible to maintain ratios.
'While an employer has a legal duty to consider any request for flexiblehours, it is vital that they carefully consider if this will work forchildren, the business and the member of staff.'
Alison Garnham, joint chief executive of the Daycare Trust, added,'Flexible working is essential so parents of older children can strikethe right balance between time at work and time with their children.Giving them the right to request flexible working would be a hugelywelcome step, especially with the Government's drive to get lone parentsinto work when their youngest child is 12. Extending flexible workingmeans that more men could reduce their working hours, delivering moretime for children with both parents.'
The announcement followed a survey published by online comparisonservice Uswitch, which showed that parents feel they do not have enoughquality time with their children. The poll of 2,000 parents found that38 per cent of working parents spend less than four waking hours a daywith their children, 38 per cent of parents with children under two hadto return to work to make ends meet, and 18 per cent had to stay at homebecause they could not afford childcare.
The results can be seen at www.uswitch.com.