TUC: Flexible employers will help business succeed

21/05/2008

Businesses that embrace flexible working practices will increase productivity and perform better in a period of economic difficulty, the Trades Union Congress has said.

Its general secretary, Brendan Barber, told delegates at the Work Wise UK annual conference, employers should "take the plunge" and encourage new practices.

He said: "Real progress has been made in persuading more employers to offer innovative flexible working practices."

Mr Barber assured employers prepared to offer flexible working they could benefit from "improved productivity, reduced costs, and better staff recruitment, retention and motivation".

In accepting recommendations from Imelda Walsh, Sainsbury's HR director, to extend the right to request flexible working, the business secretary, John Hutton, has begun the process of opening the option to parents of older children.

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