Member

This legislation, and the changes that we are making to it, are not about mandating home working or any other flexible arrangement. It is bizarre for us to have to tell the Conservative Party this, but it is not the Government’s job to determine where flexible working is and is not appropriate. Rather, the intention is to encourage dialogue between employees and their employers to find an arrangement that works for both parties. In sectors and roles where remote or hybrid working is not feasible, an employee may still reasonably negotiate a time-based flexible arrangement, such as part-time or compressed hours. Such arrangements can make work more accessible to underrepresented groups, including, as I have said, disabled people and those with caring responsibilities. This amendment could therefore prevent thousands of these employees accessing time-based flexible working arrangements. This is not something that this Government, or this House, could accept.