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As a YouGov poll reveals men as reluctant as women to ask employers for flexibility, the CBI is calling for more businesses to commit to a presumption in favour of flexible working and to introduce meaningful diversity policies. 

Almost nine in every 10 firms offer some form of flexible working, but a YouGov poll of nearly 1300 workers for the CBI’s Great Business Debate suggests too many workers are reluctant to ask their employer about the options. Men are just as uncomfortable asking for flexibility as women and both genders find it equally difficult to balance work and family life.

The survey launched at an event with the parenting network Mumsnet yesterday. Among the measures the CBI is calling for to boost flexibility in the workplace are: firms to advertise jobs flexibly from the outset and to publish aspirational diversity targets, as well as the Government to provide more help with childcare costs.

Katja Hall, CBI Deputy Director-General, said:

“Companies of all sizes rely on their people for success and want to make use of the best talents available. But many men and women who want to work, or work more hours, may feel rigid working patterns can conflict with home commitments.

“A lot of companies offer flexible working but the onus should be on businesses to presume in favour, challenge outdated assumptions and give their employees more confidence to ask about the options.

“Flexibility is not just for parents but for all staff. It can work for everyone including businesses. That’s why we’re calling for businesses to encourage flexibility from the job ad onwards, as well as the Government to help families with childcare costs.”

The survey’s key findings are:

• It seems, many employers are doing a good job of encouraging flexible working, as 40% of all employees said they would feel comfortable asking their employer about working more flexibly but 42% said they would feel uncomfortable
• The figures were almost identical for men and women. This despite the fact that over 85% of respondents to the CBI/Accenture Employment Trends Survey said their company offers forms of flexible working, such as non-standard hours or home working
• Asked how they find balancing work and family life, 61% said easy and 37% said difficult. Again, there was no significant difference between the responses from men and women

To boost flexible working the CBI is calling for:

• Businesses to adopt a presumption in favour of flexibility, from the job advert stage onwards, where possible
• Businesses to commit to meaningful diversity policies and, where possible, to publish aspirational diversity targets
• Businesses to show greater openness to job-sharing in more senior roles and ensuring recruitment processes maximise the diversity of shortlists

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