The government is looking for ways to limit the damage of extended flexible rights on small businesses.

The facts:

A consultation opening today will make it easier for small businesses to deal with flexible working requests from parents, according to employment relations minister Pat McFadden.

Under a pending law change, parents with children up to the age of 16 will be allowed to demand flexible working conditions from the boss. Managers will need to have a water-tight reason for saying no.

The change was a response to union pressure and a report by Imelda Walsh, human resources director at J Sainsbury, which underlines arguments for an extension of the age limit.

But business groups complain that small firms will suffer disproportionately as a result and may think twice about hiring parents of young children. The timing of the changes is also controversial given dire trading conditions and rising unemployment.

The consultation will also look at ways to increase awareness of parenting rights and of online tools designed to help small businesses comply with flexible working legislation.

They said:

"Parenting requirements don't end as children get older. We think it is right to extend this successful scheme and help parents of older children access the flexibility they need," said McFadden.

We say:

Small businesses’ main argument against the creep of regulations in this area has remained constant over the years. It is that most small businesses allow staff flexibility without being compelled to by law.

These rules are aimed at big businesses with rigid structures, but impact on small time-strapped businesses who are not the main target. We support flexible working but not the bureaucracy that now comes with it.

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By News Desk  on   Aug 26,2008

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Keywords

flexible working    red tape    small business    employment law    recruitment   

Comments

manmohan
its gr8 Report Abuse

Phil B
Very informative
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