Call to extend flexible working

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New Business Secretary Lord Mandelson sparked anger this week by announcing that his department would re-examine regulations, including extending the right to ask to work flexible shifts, following representations made by business groups in the wake of the economic downturn.

He stressed that no decisions have been made, but 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.

Justine Roberts, co-founder of Mumsnet, said: "If the Government are supposed to be on the side of hard-working families then this is a funny way of showing it. Mums and dads are saying loud and clear that they need the option of flexible working to make family life work.

"It would be short-sighted of the Government to renege on its promises on flexible working as in effect they are delaying an investment in the parenting of our children, children who, after all, are the country's future workforce."

Duncan Fisher, director of Dad Info, added: "In a recession parents will have to work longer hours to earn money for their families. This means flexible working is all the more important for child welfare in a recession."

A Government spokesman said: "The Government is determined to do all it can to help both families and employers in these tough economic times. The business benefits of flexible working are well documented, and it can give both employers and employees mutual benefits, helping to keep businesses profitable and people in work.

"But it is only right that the Government looks afresh at forthcoming regulations in light of the global economic downturn. Absolutely no decisions have yet been made."