An article examined the relative rarity of annualized-hours contracts. One explanation was that they normally required collective bargaining, which was disappearing across most of the private sector; and also high-trust employment relations, which were in still shorter supply.
Source: James Arrowsmith, 'Why is there not more "annualised hours" working in Britain?', Industrial Relations Journal, Volume 38 Issue 5
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Sep
A report said that small firms could implement flexible-working arrangements better, and with less bureaucracy, than large firms.
Source: Flexible Working: Good Business, Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (020 8971 9000) and British Chambers of Commerce
Links: CIPD press release
Date: 2007-Jun
The government published (following consultation) draft regulations designed to raise the minimum holiday entitlement from 20 days a year to 24 days from October 2007, and to 28 days from April 2009.
Source: Increasing the Holiday Entitlement: A Further Consultation - Summary of responses and government response to the consultation, Department of Trade and Industry (0870 150 2500)
Links: Report | DTI press release | TUC press release | CBI press release | Personnel Today report
Date: 2007-Jun
A paper published by the sex equality watchdog said that an estimated 6.5 million people (56 per cent of whom were women) were not fully using their talents in the labour market, but might be enabled to did so if better flexible-working practices were available and developed.
Source: Karen Hurrell, Sue Botcherby and David Darton, Out of Work or Working below Potential: Assessing the impact of increasing flexible working opportunities, Equal Opportunities Commission (0161 833 9244)
Links: Paper
Date: 2007-Apr
British Airways agreed not to pursue an appeal against an employment tribunal decision (in July 2005) that it had been guilty of sex discrimination in refusing a woman airline pilot the right to work 50 per cent part time so that she could look after her children.
Source: Press release 9 March 2007, British Airline Pilots' Association (020 8476 4000) and British Airways plc
Links: BALPA/BA press release | EOC press release | Personnel Today report | Telegraph report
Date: 2007-Mar
The government began consultation on proposals to increase statutory annual leave entitlement in two stages - from 20 to 24 days on 1 October 2007, and from 24 to 28 days on 1 October 2008. It also published responses to an earlier consultation on increasing bank holidays: it said that increasing the holiday entitlement would have a strong benefit in enabling staff to strike a better work-life balance and to spend more time with friends and family.
Source: Increasing the Holiday Entitlement: A further consultation, Department of Trade and Industry (0870 150 2500) | Increasing the Holiday Entitlement: An Initial Consultation - Highlights from the summary of consultation responses and the government?s response to the consultation, Department of Trade and Industry
Links: Consultation document | Responses to initial consultation | Hansard | DTI press release | TUC press release | CBI press release | Personnel Today report
Date: 2007-Jan