Huge demand for flexible working

Almost three-quarters of employers have received requests for flexible working since April 2003, according to research published today (Monday April 5 2004) by EOR (Equal Opportunities Review), published by LexisNexis UK.
The encouraging news for parents and carers is that two-thirds of employers believe that the new law has had little impact on their business.
The employers surveyed also anticipate an increased demand from their workforce for flexible working over the next three years, with 73% of respondents expecting more of their employees to opt for flexible working patterns in future.
The survey was conducted in January and February 2004. It examined maternity and paternity leave, adoption provision and flexible working arrangements provided by 117 employers, establishing how many organisations go beyond the legal minima.

It also found that women are much more likely to return to work after maternity leave if their employer offers more than the statutory minimum maternity provisions.

EOR writer/researcher Kate Godwin said:

Women tend not to return to work for employers who have only provided the legal minima. The enhanced maternity pay arrangements reported by employers in our survey are an indication that these employers see improved maternity provision as playing an important role in staff retention.

ìMost employers have responded well to the changes in legislation. Only a minority of employers have reported difficulty in administering maternity and paternity leave.î

Other key findings include:

Women’s entitlement to maternity leave has improved in almost eight in 10 (79%) respondent organisations.
Nine in 10 employers give women the opportunity to return to work from maternity leave on a part-time or job share basis.
The majority of maternity leavers (83% on average, although the median figure is 98%) are likely to return to employment.
More than two-fifths of respondents (43%) offer enhanced maternity pay.
Almost three-quarters of employers (73%) allow pension entitlement to build up during additional maternity leave.
Seven in 10 (73%) respondent organisations have given employees more generous adoption leave and pay since 2003.
About a fifth (22%) of respondents did not provide paid paternity leave until legislation came into force in April 2003.
More than half of respondent employers (54%) pay fathers more than the statutory rate of paternity pay.
Half the respondents have received requests for parental leave since April 2003.
Almost seven in 10 (69%) of organisations allow employees to temporarily reduce their hours and offer variable start and finish times.
73% of respondents anticipate that more of their employees will opt for flexible working patterns in future.
Seven in 10 respondents do not want any further changes to be made to maternity, paternity and parental leave legislation.


EOR (Equal Opportunities Review) is published by LexisNexis UK. Published monthly and available on subscription, EOR is the only source of information, which brings together law and practice on all strands of discrimination. It provides independent and authoritative explanation and analysis of trends and developments in equal opportunities and diversity.

An annual subscription (12 issues) costs 301 UK / 336 Overseas. Contact Kate Backler on 020 7400 2657 or