FlextheUK highlights how attitudes have changed over the last 18 months with regards to flexible working.

FlextheUK highlights how attitudes have changed over the last 18 months with regards to flexible working.

During the pandemic, working parents have held a uniquely challenging role; trying to meet the demands of their jobs while caring for children, homeschooling and managing regularly changing restrictions and guidance for their family.

Wates has partnered with Working families’ #FlexTheUK campaign, which aims to drive national conversations about flexible working and to ‘build back better’ for working parents.

New research published today points to mixed experiences among working parents, with the majority feeling supported by their employer. However, one in five (19%) say received no support from their employer to manage the challenges of being a parent during the pandemic. The research suggests that flexible working should be prioritised to ‘build back better’ from the pandemic.

The #FlexTheUK campaign calls for:

• Employers to design and advertise jobs as flexible, and actively encourage flexible working as a way of supporting working parents and enhance wellbeing.
• Government to bring forward the new Employment Bill in 2022 and include a duty on employers to make jobs flexible unless there is a business case not to; and take action against insecure employment practices.