TUC wants tougher flexibility regulations

The TUC is concerned that the draft regulations on flexible working are stacked against employees and may simply be ignored by bad employers.

The regulations, implementing the provisions of the Employment Act 2002 on flexible working, mean that employers will have to consider applications for flexible working from parents from next April.

The TUC warns that if the employer lobby gets its way and compensation for employees whose employer has breached the regulations is set as low as four weeks' pay "bad employers will simply see being taken to a tribunal as a cheap way of avoiding flexibility". In its response to the Department of Trade and Industry consultation over the draft regulations, the TUC suggests a compensation ceiling of a year's pay to deter reluctant employers from avoiding dealing with flexibility requests.

The draft regulations may only allow a worker to be accompanied by a colleague in a meeting with their employer to discuss flexible hours. The TUC believes that the regulations should allow any employee who wants to take a trade union rep in with them to do so.

Commenting on the draft regulations TUC general secretary John Monks said: "For these regulations to work as they are intended, and create a new climate where working parents aren't frightened to ask to change the way they work, and to know that when they do ask their requests are taken seriously, changes need to be made."