Only a quarter of employees seek flexible working despite extension

Just 23% of employees have sought flexible working arrangements since the extension of the right to request it in June 2014, according to research from O2 Business.

The survey of more than 2,000 employees showed that a lack of trust (31%) was the main barrier to employees seeking flexible working.

Other barriers included a general business culture that does not encourage working away from the office (28%) and a lack of technology or tools to facilitate it (20%).

Although more than half of respondents were aware of the extension, just 12% believed their organisation would recognise flexible working in 2015.

Paul Lawton, general manager of small and medium-sized business at O2 Business, said: “It’s encouraging to see more people becoming aware of the right to request legislation since it came into force in June.

“However, our research shows that the pressure to be seen in the office and a lack of tools to enable remote working is still preventing the benefits that working flexibly brings, such as improved morale, high levels of employer loyalty and productivity gains.”

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• Employment rights