Extension of Right to Request Flexible Working Hours

The Queen's speech on 6 November 2007 outlined further changes to the current legislation on flexible working hours stating that there will be "proposals to help people achieve a better balance between work and family life." The Government simultaneously indicated that it intended to extend flexible working rights to parents with children aged 6 or older.

An independent review was commissioned by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform to review the extension of this right which is currently only applicable to parents of children under the age of 6, parents of disabled children and adult carers. John Hutton, Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, has commented that "The right to request flexible working not only helps millions of parents juggle work and family life, but can also benefit business by improving staff retention and productivity."

Imelda Walsh, Sainsbury's HR Director, was commissioned to undertake an independent review into the proposal. This was published in May 2008 and recommended that:

• The right to request flexible working should be extended to those with parental responsibility for children up to the age of 16
• The extension of the right should not be phased in but implemented in one go

The Government accepted these recommendations and announced in December 2008 that the extension of the right to request flexible working to parents of children up to the age of 16 will be implemented on 1 April 2009.