'Staff want more flexibility'

Over a third of workers in the UK would like to be able to work from home under flexible working arrangements, according to a survey by the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals.

The poll of 293 people also found that 43% of employees were occasionally allowed the right to request flexible working when it was needed. Only 9.8% of respondents said flexible working was part of their contract.

Diana Bruce, Senior Policy Liaison Officer at the CIPP, said: “The Modern Workplaces consultation published in May 2011 includes proposals to extend the right to request flexible working to all employees which would certainly give those who would like the chance to work more flexibly to at least have the opportunity to make a request. However, when the changes to legislation do take place, it should be remembered that it will remain a right to request, as opposed to any kind of right to work flexibly.”

The consultation also proposes a system of flexible parental leave by 2015.

The CIPP says extending the right to request flexible working could benefit businesses. It says: "The right will facilitate the conversation [about flexibility] between employer and employee which otherwise may never have taken place and, if negotiated properly, could help retain skilled staff, increase commitment and loyalty to the company which in turn can only be a positive move for the productivity of the business."