This report looks at the effect of the UK 'right to request, and duty to consider, flexible working' on gender equality and access to flexible working for men and women.
The research compares the UK approach with other countries, including:
- France
- Germany
- the Netherlands
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Norway
The 'right to request, and duty to consider, flexible working' was introduced in the UK in April 2003. It aimed to provide staff with parental responsibility for children under the age of 6 (or 18, if disabled) with the right to ask for a change in how many hours, when or where they work, and to have that request considered seriously by their employer. The right was later widened to cover those who care for a dependent adult and parents of children under 16.