UK Firms Unprepared For Flexible Working Laws

by Robin Pilgrim, LawAndTax-News.com, London

15 April 2003

Employment law experts are claiming that the UK's new flexible working laws are too complicated, and represent too great a compliance burden for many British firms, which have failed to put policies in place despite the fact that the legislation came into effect this month.

Under the terms of the new laws, parents with children aged under six (or disabled children younger than 18), can request a review of the hours and times that they work, and can ask to be considered for teleworking.

However, according to a survey recently conducted by the Crone Corkhill recruitment consultancy, around two-thirds of the 100 HR professionals polled revealed that the issue has not even been considered by their companies.

UK employment law firm, Peninsula found the same during its survey, which was released on Monday. It discovered that more than 87% of the employers polled felt that the UK's employment legislation is difficult to understand and just 27% felt that they were in compliance with existing rules on the issue.

Speaking following the publication of the Peninsula survey, Managing Director Peter Done explained that:

'Employers simply cannot follow employment legislation because it is so complex, there's also far too much of it and a balance needs to be sought between extending the rights of workers and helping employers tackle new legislation.'

He added that: 'More legislation is set to be introduced and there are a further 20 amendments or changes that look set to be brought in.'

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