Women’s flexible work requests rejected in public sector

Almost a third of women working in schools, hospitals, care homes, town halls, police stations and other key services have had requests to work flexibly denied, an analysis has suggested.

A survey by union Unison – which received 44,000 responses from women working in the public sector – revealed that a quarter of the women had had multiple requests denied. Unison labelled these employers as being “inconsistent, rigid and unimaginative” by denying individuals the flexibility needed.

The data showed nearly half (47%) of respondents had requested some flexibility in their jobs so they could achieve a better work-life balance. More than a third (37%) had done so to look after their mental health, 36% to fit around their childcare needs and 29% for physical health reasons.

The women were given a range of explanations by employers as to why it wasn’t possible for them to work flexibly. Two-fifths (42%) were told it would affect the quality of service and 28% that there wouldn’t be enough colleagues to cover their duties. A fifth (20%) were denied any flexibility because their managers said it would prompt colleagues to ask for similar working patterns. Around 15% were given no reason at all.

From this April, the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023 gives employees in England, Scotland and Wales a statutory right to request flexible working from their first day at work.

Unison pointed out that the new law does not make it any more difficult for…