Flexible working rights will help to boost equality in the workplace, it has been claimed.
According to workers’ union Unison, introducing flexible working for every UK employee will get rid of the career glass ceiling often encountered by women.
Michelle Singleton, assistant policy officer for the public sector union, said flexible working – which can be boosted with cutting-edge virtual office environments – should not be seen as a preserve of mothers and an alternative to pursuing a career.
“If flexible working was extended to all and people realised that it is a necessary thing for general wellbeing and mental health and balancing everyone’s life balance, then that bias will be taken away and hopefully [it] won’t have such an impact on the glass ceiling of career lines,” Ms Singleton said.
Her comments follow research from Opportunity Now, which showed that a lack of flexibility in the workplace was seen as being a barrier to progression for 82 per cent of women.
