SMEs overwhelmingly against extension to right to request flexible working.

The results of a poll conducted by Alliance & Leicester show SME owners and managers are pitted against the plans by Government to extend flexible working.

The poll sampled 843 business owners and was conducted by YouGov on behalf of Alliance & Leicester.

The results of the poll shows that there is indeed a strong support base amongst the UKs SME community to yesterdays decision to halt extensions to the right to ask for flexible shifts:

38% of small business owners say they will find it difficult to offer the extended flexible working right when it comes into force.

65% say they do not have enough staff to provide flexible cover.

If required to extend flexible working, 54% expect they will not be able to meet customer expectations and just under half (45%) think it will be disruptive.

29% of small business owners are concerned about the financial impact flexible working will have on their business.

86% say the changes will be easier for larger organisations to implement and just aren’t realistic for small firms. 

69% of business owners say the legislation just isn’t fair on childless employees.

52% of small businesses admit the need for flexible working would be a consideration when recruiting new staff.

54% of small business owners view the new flexible working legislation as unnecessary

47% think it is unimportant to achieving an improved work-life balance.
 
The case for the extension

Meanwhile there has been an outcry from other interested groups who are in favour to the amendments - notably parent bodies.

Unions and campaign groups fear the new right, due to come into force next April for parents of children up to the age of 16, could now be delayed.

Parenting groups Mumsnet.com and Dad Info said a survey of more than 3,000 parents showed seven out of 10 did not have the working arrangements they wanted.

A third of mothers and one in five fathers said they did not believe their employer would allow them to work flexibly and most of those questioned said they felt frustrated at the Government's review of the extension of rights.

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