| Title: |
Is flexible working? The costs and benefits of flexible working and the drawbacks of one-size-fits-all flexibility mandates |
| Authors: |
Denham, Annabel; Shackleton, J. R. |
| Publisher Information: |
Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) |
| Publication Year: |
2026 |
| Collection: |
EconStor (German National Library of Economics, ZBW) |
| Subject Terms: |
ddc:330 |
| Description: |
Changes to our way of life during the Covid lockdown accelerated an existing drive for more flexible working opportunities. However, the costs of flexible working requirements have rarely been properly assessed and could extend to undermining growth, increasing unemployment and the rise in post-Covid withdrawal from the workforce. UK employers already offer a wide variety of non-traditional work options. Where this is the result of employers voluntarily offering such options and workers voluntarily accepting them, this is compatible with classical liberal approaches to the employment contract and economic efficiency. The rationale for the 'right to request' flexible working has expanded from concern for economically disadvantaged workers with health issues or caring responsibilities to a belief that all employees should be able to request a change to their working arrangements. The Employment Rights Act strengthens the 'right to request' flexible working arrangements and will make it very difficult for organisations to resist such requests. Flexible working arrangements advocated by pressure groups and trade unions include the right to work at home, to work compressed hours or a four-day week, a 'right to disconnect' and extended and more generously funded parental leave. All of these arrangements have bene ts for some employees, and a monetary value can be attached to them. However, as other employees cannot bene t from these opportunities because of the nature of their jobs, pay relativities may need to adjust, and this could present difficulties where pay structures are rigid as a result of union pressures. Despite claims that flexible working is virtually costless to employers, this is not generally true; otherwise, flexible options would be offered voluntarily. Where employers face significant extra costs, these will be passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices and to workers in terms of lower wages and/or fewer job opportunities. A concern is the way in which effective employment mandates arising ... |
| Document Type: |
report |
| Language: |
English |
| Relation: |
Series: IEA Discussion Paper; No. 144; https://hdl.handle.net/10419/336788; RePEc:zbw:ieadps:336788 |
| Availability: |
https://hdl.handle.net/10419/336788 |
| Rights: |
https://www.econstor.eu/dspace/Nutzungsbedingungen |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.51C9F20B |
| Database: |
BASE |