Survey highlights growth of flexible working

The number of workplaces offering staff the opportunity to work flexibly has almost doubled in the last six years, according to the Workplace Employment Relations Survey 2004.

The survey, sponsored jointly by the Department of Trade and Industry and ACAS, found that there were increases in the number of workplaces offering homeworking, term-time working, flexitime, job sharing and contractual parental and paternity leave.

The survey also found an increase in the number of employers having an equal opportunities policy in place, more use of performance appraisals and a higher number of companies using part-time workers.

  • Survey gives detailed picture of employment in Britain and Survey results show that flexible working has taken off   Read the main findings of the survey on the Government News Network website.

  • The 2004 Workplace Employment Relations Survey   Read the full findings of the survey on the DTI website.

    Also

    Views from the workplace   IRS Employment Review looks at the key findings of the Workplace Employment Relations Survey.

    HR's message is getting through at last    The authoritative Workplace Employment Relations Survey confirms the pre-eminence in UK workplaces of HR management techniques such as teamworking and performance appraisals, writes Stephen Overell.

    Trade unions drinking in last chance saloon    Personnel Today's Mike Berry looks at the survey's findings.

    Refusing a flexible working request may be discriminatory   Employers refusing flexible working requests from female employees may be vulnerable to sex discrimination claims - even if they comply in full with the rules on the right to request flexible working.

    Model equal opportunities policies   XpertHR's policies and documents section provides model policies on equal opportunities.

    Model performance appraisal forms   XpertHR's policies and documents section provides model appraisal forms.

    Part-time workers: the basics   XpertHR's employment law reference manual has guidance on employing part-time workers.