Parents get better flexi deal

The government plans to extend the right to request flexible working to parents of children under 16 — the current age limit is for a child under six or under 18 if the child is disabled.

Accepting the conclusions of the review carried out by Sainsbury’s human resources director Imelda Walsh, the government says that the extension will take place in one go rather than being phased in. A consultation on the details of mplementation is to follow.

Despite popular assumptions that it is a “women’s issue”, Walsh said, of the 14 million employees who currently work flexibly, nearly half (45%) are men. However, women are three and a half times more likely to request flexible working to care for a child under six.

The TUC welcomed any extension of the right as “great news for parents” with hectic family lives.