Parents who earn more are more likely to work flexibly, according to the charity Working Families.
69% of parents who earn more than £70,000 a year work in a flexible way, compared to 47% of those earning between £10,000 and £40,000.
More than two thirds (68%) of all working parents said their work interferes with their ability to take part in activities with their children.
Sarah Jackson, chief executive of Working Families, said:
“We know flexible working makes business sense across the salary spectrum, so why should only the people who earn the most be able to reap the rewards?
“We want jobs at all levels to be advertised as flexible. And this should be the norm, rather than the exception.”
Accessing flexible working
All employees have the legal right to request flexible working, not just parents and carers.
Working from home, job sharing and flexitime are examples of different types of flexible working.
Workers can apply for flexible working if they’ve worked continuously for the same employer for the last 26 weeks.
This involves ‘making a statutory application’ which includes:
- writing to your employer
- the employer reviews the request and makes a decision within 3 months
- if the request is agreed, the employer must change the terms and conditions in your contract
- your employer must write to you giving the reasons if they refuse the request.
Contact us to discuss flexible working arrangements. Contact Sue Stephens for further information.
