Parent Power

Bill Morris, leader of the Transport and General Workers Union, said the proposalsdid not go far enough. He said: 'You still have to ask [for the right to flexible working]. The employer still has the opportunity to say no.'

Jeremy Paxman, playing devil's advocate on BBC's Newsnight, commented to Patricia Hewitt that far from giving working parents a guarantee of flexible working hours, all the government had done was to provide 'the right to get on your knees and ask your employer [for them]'.

How to 'ask'
Parents who want to alter their working hours will have to make their request to their employers in writing. The employer must then set up a meeting to discuss the proposal. If they refuse the request they must do so by putting forward a convincing business case for their refusal. Employees then may appeal and eventually take their case to tribunal.

Although ministers believe that 80 per cent of requests will be granted, there are concerns that this system will only work for those employees who are confident enough to tackle their bosses. The Maternity Alliance says that the right to ask is not sufficient, and that those in poorly paid, unskilled jobs will be overlooked. While all employers have to consider requests for flexible working, small companies may also have viable reasons to reject them. Larger companies will have less difficulty complying.