The government is preparing a shake-up of current employment rules which will give all workers the right to flexible working, whatever their personal circumstances.
The consultations, which have already been attacked by business groups, could come into force by April 2013 and would see workers being able to choose from a number of different options including working just four days a week and not having to work during school holidays. The government is committed to the changes despite official figures released last week which showed that the British economy is growing slower than many other European countries, including Greece.
A consultation document, entitled ‘Modern Workplace’ has said that flexible working should be an option open to every worker in the country and not just to those parents with young children. It will mainly help the growing number of older workers who are not wealthy enough to retire and therefore have to keep on working.
However, business groups have attacked the proposals, especially for coming at a time when the economy is still fragile. David Frost, director general of the British Chamber of Commerce, said: “Our economic recovery is far from secure. But ministers are yet again tinkering with employment legislation. These kinds of laws create huge uncertainty for employers, and prevent them from taking on more staff.”
