- Conference
- 2024 National Women's Conference
- Date
- 18 September 2023
- Decision
- Carried
Flexible working is a way for workers to change their working hours to suit their needs. For example, having the flexibility to change their start and finishing times, compress their weekly hours/ days or even work from home.
There are many reasons why women would need or want flexible working. One reason is that caring responsibilities disproportionately fall on women, even in 2023, and they continue to find it increasingly challenging balancing both caring responsibilities and work; putting them under immense stress and strain.
This gives women the ability to fit their work life around home life, giving greater say over their wellbeing and work life balance.
However, there are some workplaces that still do not see the benefits. Research have found that flexible working generates 43% more revenue for businesses and increases productivity by 20%.
It is also recognised that many women aged 50+ leave the workforce due to medical issues, caring or work life balance. Research shows that 900,000 women aged 45-55 left work due to menopause or medical issues.
Flexible working would encourage more women to remain in work thus helping them with childcare, caring responsibilities and working around any health challenges.
Even though flexible working/hybrid working policies and procedures now exist in most work places post Covid-19 pandemic, some women still find it difficult requesting this or getting a positive outcome. Also, flexible working might be more challenging for those who work around shift patterns.
However, it is vital that all women be aware of their rights for requesting flexible working and achieving a satisfactory outcome.
Conference calls on the National Women’s Committee:
1)To campaign to raise awareness on women’s rights to flexible working.
2. To work with service groups and branches to promote the importance of negotiating a good flexible working policies for our members with all employers.