The government is currently consulting on the following:

Extension of the right to request flexible working

Following the Walsh Review, the government announced that it intends to extend the right to request flexible working hours to parents of children aged 16 and under. The consultation paper was published in August and also considers the best way to simplify and reduce the administrative burden on businesses. The government estimates that the new measures will benefit around 4.5 million employees and will translate into 300,000 additional requests to work flexibly each year. Any business wishing to respond to the consultation should do so by 18 November.

Consultation on proposals to amend the European Works Council Directive

The government is consulting upon proposed amendments to European Works Council Directive. The amendments seek to increase the number of European Works Councils and to improve the setting up and operation of European Works Councils. The consultation runs for 4 weeks and closes on 6 October.

Request for time off for training

The UK government intends to introduce the right to request time off to train for employees in England in 2010. Its consultation on this right closed in September. The Scottish government has now issued a consultation paper seeking views on extending this right to Scotland. The consultation closes on 31 October.

03 October 2008

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