19 February 2008
John Hutton, the business secretary, will warn Government that
moves to extend the rights for flexible working to millions more
parents could risk alienating employers, causing them to refuse all
requests for part-time work.
In November, the prime minister appointed Imelda Walsh, J
Sainsbury's human resources director, to head an independent review
into whether the right to ask for flexible working should be
extended to parents with children above the age of six.
The move was strongly criticised by business organisations,
which complained that small employers, in particular, would find it
difficult to cope if rights were extended.
Some 6m employees currently have the right to ask for part-time
and flexible working, of which 3.6m are parents of children aged
under six or disabled. Another 2.6m parents would benefit if the
age limit was raised to 12 and 4.5m if it was raised to 17.
