Labour has pledged to "strengthen the right to flexible working" for employees, a move that has drawn praise from trade unions but criticism from business representatives and opposition parties. Deputy Prime Prime Minister Louise Haigh announced the plan Tuesday during a speech to the Trade Union Congress, asserting that workers would gain more power to work from home and to request flexible hours.
Under the proposed changes, employers would be required to provide justifications to employees for rejecting flexible working requests. Additionally, line managers would be given more authority in managing employee schedules. Haigh stated that while not all jobs can be performed remotely or all requests accommodated, "every request can and should be taken seriously." She emphasized that employers wishing to deny a request would need to "sit down with their employee, properly consider it, and explain why."
The announcement comes as businesses are reportedly struggling with Labour's existing Employment Rights Act, which has granted increased strike powers to trade unions. Haigh's speech was delivered on behalf of Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who canceled engagements following the death of his father.
Responding to the announcement, TUC general secretary Paul Nowak stated that the government is "right to recognise the importance of flexible working." He added that the move "makes it harder for employers to turn down requests while giving workers a stronger voice in the process."
However, the proposal faced sharp criticism from opposition figures. Shadow chancellor Andrew Griffith accused Labour of creating a "shirkers' charter" for the public sector, arguing that the party misunderstands business and is imposing further red tape. He suggested that Labour should prioritize creating a favorable environment for business growth rather than aligning with union demands.
Reform deputy leader Richard Tice described the move as "yet more meddling from an economically illiterate government determined to make it as difficult as possible to run a business." He advocated for trusting employers to manage their operations effectively to foster economic growth.
In a broader context, Haigh also addressed concerns surrounding artificial intelligence, urging Labour to "heed the warnings" from AI developers about potential extinction-level risks. She stressed the need for international cooperation to establish appropriate safeguards, noting that Silicon Valley's OpenAI has called for strict regulations on the technology. Labour's manifesto had previously included commitments to regulate powerful AI models, though these plans were reportedly dropped in December.