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<p>Flexible working is central to how the Coalition Government sees employment in
the future. From 30 June this year, following a full consultation with businesses
on how best to do so, we extended the right to request flexible working to all employees.</p><p>
</p><p>The Government has also made it easier for employers to consider requests for
flexible working by replacing the previous statutory process for considering requests
with a duty on employers to consider requests in a ‘reasonable manner’. To support
this Acas has published a statutory Code to help businesses understand how to handle
requests. Further information is available from: <a href="http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1616"
target="_blank">http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1616</a>.</p><p> </p><p>To
support the creation of more high quality part-time jobs, we are working to encourage
cultural change in flexible working, especially to encourage employers to think about
flexible working when they recruit new employees. For example, the Government convened
an employer-led group to make practical recommendations on how flexible working can
be beneficial and how it can be built into employer’s recruitment. Following the recommendations
of this group we are encouraging the use of the strapline “Happy to Talk Flexible
Working” by employers when they advert jobs.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, on 10 June,
my Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Pensions and my Hon. Friend the Member
for Cardiff Central (Jenny Willott) led a conference on flexible working for employers.
The conference explained the benefits of flexible working and providing practical
tips on getting it working within individual workplaces, including a practical session
on successfully designing part-time jobs.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, to promote part-time
work more generally, BIS, in partnership with the <strong>Business is Great</strong>
campaign,<strong> the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) </strong>and<strong>
PwC</strong>, sponsored a new initiative launched by Timewise in search of the UK’s
most flexible small businesses that offer flexible work options to employees. The
competition ran from 16 October to 24 November. The winner will be announced publicly
by Friday 20 March 2015. The Government is also promoting flexible working and part-time
working as part of the GREAT campaign to target business press. More detail on the
GREAT campaign here: <a href="http://www.greatbusiness.gov.uk/flexibleworking/" target="_blank">http://www.greatbusiness.gov.uk/flexibleworking/</a>.</p><p>
</p><p>Finally, Acas have produced guidance booklets for employers and employees on
how to manage flexible working and a work-life balance. Further information is available
from: <a href="http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1283" target="_blank">http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1283</a>.</p>
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