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Opening conversation: the first APPG meeting on Flexible and Family-Friendly Working focusses on women at work 

Published: 15 Mar 2024

Yasmin Qureshi MP, Jennifer Amphlett from Zurich, Alesha De-Freitas MBE from the Fawcett Society and Working Families CEO Jane van Zyl at the first meeting of the APPG for Flexible and Family-Friendly Working

Another step along the road to a national conversation about flexible working was made with the first meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Flexible and Family-Friendly Working, which took place with a discussion on how flexible working can help women progress in the workplace.

The panel, chaired by Yasmin Qureshi MP, included Alesha De-Freitas MBE from the Fawcett Society, Jennifer Amphlett from Zurich, and, of course, our CEO Jane van Zyl, who said,

It’s an incredible moment to see the coming together of businesses, policymakers and the charity sector who are all invested in progressing flexible working for the benefit of all.

The discussion was positive and hopeful, and everyone involved is committed to driving forward change that will make our economy stronger, families get the balance they need, and individuals reach their potential.” The discussion kicked off with a look at our ‘Women at Work in 2024’ briefing, which was produced to coincide with International Women’s Day. The report paints a challenging picture of women struggling to take the time they need with their babies due to low rates of statutory maternity pay and the low take-up by fathers of Shared Parental Leave, as well as women facing unequal access to flexible working, and a ‘part-time penalty’ when it comes to career progression.

The pandemic initiated a step change in flexible working, but conversation highlighted there is a danger of the rise in hybrid working being seen as ‘job done’, without appreciating the limits this has for many women who are unable to work remotely.

The consensus was that there was much work to do, but there was optimism amongst panellists that change was possible, thanks to the recent Flexible Working Act that moves the dial toward more equal access to flex, and success stories such as Zurich’s. Zurich has seen the positive impact of changes implemented in 2019, mainly advertising all jobs with flexibility and using inclusive language, which has improved the number of women hired in senior roles by 45% and has seen the number of women on the board jump from one to six.

Progressive employers show us what’s possible, but the panellists agreed there are limits to what organisations can do without wider societal change. Addressing cultural misconceptions around part-time working, revolutionary childcare reform and a revisioning of how work is structured were all cited as things to consider in transforming the experience of women. Although it was accepted that legislation on flexible working is the number one policy solution, it is a much-needed step on the longer journey to society embracing flexible working as a benefit for all.

The panel shared their priorities for practical actions that could help to move things forward – the investment in people management training, an emphasis on job design, advertising all jobs with flexibility, as well as those who are in a position to speak up using their privilege to point out the flaws in the system.

Whilst everyone acknowledged there is a mountain still to climb, there was positivity about what can be achieved by the APPG in starting a dialogue, which can bring evidence-based debate to the fore, generate potential solutions, and ensure flexible and family-friendly working stays firmly on the agenda. Discussing the importance of driving change through conversations, Yasmin Qureshi, MP, explains

Conversations around flexible working such as these don’t just highlight what needs to change, but how it can happen. Hearing from businesses that are reaping the benefits of advertising all jobs with flexibility, and other practical ideas, helps move the dialogue beyond flexible working being a ‘nice to have’ to something that can close the gender pay gap and boost our economy. The new Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023, which I introduced as a bill to the House last year, is a strong start in enabling better access to flexible working for parents and carers, and the APPG will continue to focus on legislative and other changes that mean everyone can access the working arrangements they need.

Read more about the APPG for Flexible and Family-Friendly Working