DWP/063/10
Government today called on employers to do more to promote
flexible working, as it published its response to the Family
Friendly Taskforce report.
Taking forward the taskforce’s recommendations, Ministers will
promote flexible working across the public sector and new Cabinet
Office guidance will mean that there will be a presumption that
all jobs should be advertised as available for flexible or
part-time working unless there is a good business case why this
isn’t possible. Yvette Cooper also announced that Government will
appoint a taskforce of business leaders and business organisations
to champion the case for flexible working in the private sector.
To help encourage more businesses to offer flexible jobs next
year, Jobcentre Plus will implement computer changes which will
mean every time a new vacancy comes into a Jobcentre – the
employer will be automatically asked if it can be part time, job
share or flexible.
Recognising that employers need more help to realise the benefits
of flexible working to their business, Yvette Cooper pledged that
Government would offer more support and that her own Department
for Work and Pensions would lead the way in making job vacancies
available on a part time and flexible basis.
Yvette Cooper, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
said:
“Many parents can feel torn between working and
being able to spend enough time with their children. Helping
people into jobs, which also meet the needs of their family, is a
really important way to tackle poverty and help parents build a
better life for their children.
“There aren’t enough quality part-time or flexible jobs available
to parents at the moment and I am determined that, starting with
my own Department, Government works with business so that we can
make sure there are enough opportunities out there for parents who
want to work."
Ministers believe that increasing the availability of quality
flexible and part-time jobs will be crucial for the recovery as it
will stimulate more jobs, help parents off benefits and will give
them the opportunity to work, continue their careers and balance
the needs of their family too.
The Government has also published Think Fathers: How flexible
working for Dads can work for your business, a collection of case
studies of how businesses large and small across many different
sectors have implemented flexible working and reaped the benefits.
It provides some top tips to employers on how they can do the same
in their own businesses.
Children & Families Minister Dawn Primarolo said:
"We want to do all we can to help parents find
employment and stay employed. Research tells us this remains the
best route out of poverty for families, but for families to be
able to do this; we need business to play their part. Family
friendly working practice should be at the heart of every
organisation. My own department is committed to flexible working
and has really seen the benefits of supporting those with caring
responsibilities in their careers.
“We know that fathers
can find it particularly difficult to juggle the responsibilities
of work and family. We are publishing the Think Fathers guide to
highlight to business and industry the benefits of incorporating
flexible family-friendly policies into their company. The guide
was created by business for business and I hope companies use it
to inform and even revise their employment policies and to make it
easier for mums and dads to strike the right balance between work
and family life."
Business Minister Pat McFadden said:
“The right to request flexible working has been a real success.
As we consider the future we should make sure it continues to work
well for both employees and employers”.
Maria Eagle, Deputy Minister for Women and Equality, said:
"Families are the framework of our lives and matter not
just to individuals but to our communities, the economy, and
society as a whole. Mothers often tear their hair out trying to
balance earning a living with bringing up their children and need
more flexibility at work and fathers want to be able to play a
bigger part in bringing up their children. We will continue to
work with business to ensure that parents continue to have real
choices about how they live their lives, at the same time as
making the economy strong and competitive.”
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions established the
Taskforce to bring together a range of experts from business,
organisations that represent businesses, employees and families,
non-government bodies and government departments to provide an
expert perspective on flexible working practices.
For background:
- The Family Friendly Working Hours Taskforce was set up by
Yvette Cooper as part of the White Paper “Building Britain’s
recovery (December 2009)”, in which the Department for Work and
Pensions fully recognised its part in helping and supporting
employers to improve the situation.
- The aim of the Taskforce was to explore the challenges around
improving the availability and quality of family friendly working
practices – focusing on working hours and patterns and provide
recommendations for change. It is made up of experts from
business, organisations that represent businesses, employees and
families, non-government bodies and government departments.
- The Government is committed to working with employers to
promote flexible working practices in order to help carers,
parents, older workers and others struggling to balance work with
other commitments and its long-term ambition is to ensure that
flexible working practices are embedded in all businesses across Britain.
Contacts:
Department Work and Pensions
Phone: 020 3267 5144
NDS.DWP@coi.gsi.gov.uk