Flexible working: why is it important when voting in the UK elections?

As the UK gears up for another election on 4th July 2024, various issues are taking centre stage in political debates and campaign promises. One important topic that has received significant attention in recent years is flexible working (as it should do!). With the COVID-19 pandemic accelerating the shift towards remote work and highlighting the importance of work-life balance, it is now more important than ever for voters to understand each political party's stance on this.

The importance of flexible working

As advocates and champions for flexible working at Flexa, we’ve seen first hand the benefits flexible working have both for employees and employers.

For employees, flexible working leads to a better work-life balance, reduced stress levels, and increased job satisfaction. It allows individuals to manage their personal responsibilities and work in a way that suits their lifestyle. Flexible working benefits everyone from working parents, carers, minority groups and more! 

What is each party’s stance on flexible working?

With not long to go, we wanted to examine each political party's stance on flexible working. Here is a brief overview of where the main parties stand:

The Conservative Party

Earlier this year The Conservative Party launched new flexible working legislation that gives employees the right to request flexible working from the day they start a job. The new rules will allow employees to request flexible working from day one of their new job, rather than having to wait 26 weeks which is what they previously would have had to do. This new legislation which came into play on April 6th 2024 highlights that : 

• Day one rights - Employees can request flexible working on the first day of employment. This means that from day one, they can ask an employer for changes to how long, when, and where they work.
• Two requests in any twelve-month period - Employees can now make two requests in any twelve-month period, rather than the current one request.
• Requests must be dealt with within two months - Before the legislation employers would have three months to get back to employees, this has now changed to two months.
• No explanation is needed - Employees don’t need to give their employees a reason when making a flexible working request.

The Conservative Party also expressed support for flexible working in their 2019 manifesto where they pledged to encourage flexible working and consult on making it the default unless employers have good reasons not to.

The Labour Party

In their 2024 manifesto the labour party promises to :

‘embrace technological advancements in a way that ensures both workers and our economy benefit. We’ll help ensure workers can benefit from flexible working, including opportunities for flexi-time contracts and hours that better accommodate school terms where they are not currently available, by making flexible working the default from day one for all workers, except where it is not reasonably feasible.’

The Labour Party has been a strong advocate for flexible working rights. In their 2019 manifesto, they pledged to create a new Workers' Protection Agency to enforce workplace rights, including the right to flexible working and a proposed four-day workweek. The manifesto also promised to ‘transform the workplace by requiring all large employers to implement flexible working, introduce a menopause policy, and consider changes to sickness and absence practices’. Additionally, the party promised to give all workers the right to flexible working from day one of employment, rather than after 26 weeks, as is previously was.

The Liberal Democrats

In their 2024 manifesto the party share : 

‘Making flexible working a day-one right and expanding access to flexible, affordable childcare’ and ‘Give everyone a new right to flexible working and every disabled person the right to work from home if they want to, unless there are significant business reasons why it is not possible.’

The Liberal Democrats have also expressed support for flexible working arrangements in the past. In their 2019 manifesto, they pledged to create a new "dependent contractor" employment status to protect the rights of workers in the gig economy, including the right to flexible working. They also promised to strengthen the right to request flexible working and make it available to all employees from their first day in a job.

The Green Party

In their 2024 manifesto, the party shares :

“We believe in equal pay for equal work and in the right to flexible working arrangements that will benefit women, carers and disabled people in particular. Reducing working time can make us all happier, healthier and more productive. Elected Greens will support reduced working hours and moving towards a four-day working week”

In their 2019 manifesto, the Green Party also pledged to make flexible working a day-one right for all workers, as well as to introduce a four-day working week as standard. They argue that reducing working hours could boost productivity, improve mental health, and reduce carbon emissions from commuting.

How can we create a more equitable, sustainable, and thriving workforce? 

As the UK moves forward, it is clear that flexible working will remain a key issue in the political landscape. With many employees now accustomed to the benefits of remote work and flexible working, there is likely to be increasing pressure on the government to implement these rights in law.