Keeping Time For Children

If it is true that 93% of employers respond favourably to requests by staff to work flexibly, and if there is now a growing political consensus that parents should be more involved in their children's upbringing and education, surely there can be no question that the right to flexible working† should be extended to all parents — those of secondary as well as of primary-school aged children?

† Under current legislation, any parent who has been employed for at least twelve months can ask for flexible hours if their children are under six or are disabled. This includes flexitime, working from home, working a compressed week, working part-time, and job sharing. Employers can only reject a request on the grounds of excessive costs.