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The UK's national charity for working parents and carers

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About the group

The Flexible Working APPG brings together parliamentarians from across the political spectrum, business leaders and other organisations, all of whom are committed to improving access to flexible and family-friendly working.  

The APPG provides a constructive space for policymakers and other stakeholders to debate key issues with the aim of advancing positive policy change that will make flexibility commonplace across all industries. It enables collaboration to develop practical solutions, promote flexible working as a viable solution, and to strengthen the case to put forward to Central Government to make sure flexible working, works for everyone. 

Why is it needed?

Despite the pandemic increasing the popularity of flexible working and shifting the way we work, only 3 in 10 UK parents would be likely to apply for a job that did not list flexible working options in the advert. Those with caring responsibilities are often forced to take lower paid roles to secure the flexibility they need, resulting in a raft of wasted talent, as well as impacting on family finances. 

Flexible working is currently an underused tool that could enable more people, currently locked out of the labour market due to caring responsibilities, to enter employment. It has the potential to allow men to take a more active caring role and facilitate women to progress in their careers, helping to close the gender pay gap. It can help struggling families manage the daily juggle of childcare, and carers take care of loved ones. It can help families keep their heads above water when they’re drowning in increased living-costs. And, it has significant benefits for business, helping to create a more engaged, more productive workforce. 

Although incoming legislation will give employees the right to request flexible working from day one in a job, there are many parents and carers who will still miss out on the benefits of flex, such as those on zero-hours contracts or employees who have requests denied. Unfortunately, the current flexible working landscape is imbalanced, with people on lower income twice as likely to have informal requests for flex refused. Only through policy change will the playing field be levelled, to give equal access to flex for everyone who needs it.  

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