News Women want flexibility
| Women want flexibility |
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Flexibility is a key to women having more equal opportunities in the workplace writes journalist Ruth Laugesen. In a Listener article (27 Aug), Laugesen describes the current situation where bosses reluctantly allow part-time work and flexible hours. She argues that if the contribution of women in the workforce is properly understood and valued, then businesses will attract women by offering the thing they want most – flexibility. A follow-up online article sites a yet-to-be-published Department of Labour report on flexible work arrangements that demonstrates the success of flexible working arrangements. On a related note, in May the UK government launched a consultation on changes to employment law aimed at encouraging “a more fair and flexible approach at work”. It proposes more flexible shared parental leave which includes increased paternity leave for fathers following the birth or adoption of a child. |