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Productivity fears drive 28% of employer flexible work rejections

by Benefits Expert
07/04/2025
Flexible work, hybrid, remote, 4 day week, productivity fears, Flexible Working Act, requests
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More than a fifth (21 percent) of employees have successfully requested flexible working since the Flexible Working Act was introduced in April 2024.

However, the same proportion (21 percent) say they have had flexible work requests declined during their working lifetime by their current or previous employer.

Within the group of employees that reported having flexible work requests rejected, 28 percent of refusals were due to employer concerns that the change would lead to a fall in productivity.

This is despite 68 percent of workers reporting that they would be more efficient if they worked flexibly by having control over their working hours and where they worked, according to research from Phoenix Group, a major UK savings and retirement business.

The findings have been published as the Flexible Working Act, which gave workers the right to request flexible working from day one, marked its first year anniversary.  

The research revealed that while more workers are taking up flexible arrangements, many still face significant barriers.

Researchers highlighted challenges around employer awareness, engagement and perceptions about productivity. 

Flexibility at work can mean different things to different people and previous research from Phoenix Insights (a think tank set up by Phoenix Group) in 2023 found that 62 percent of workers wanted flexibility over their hours worked, while 43 percent wanted flexibility over where they worked. This shows a disconnect between worker and employer wants and needs, the think tank said.

Further reasons for requests being denied included workers feeling their employer doesn’t believe in flexibility (27 percent), employers saying that business needs outweigh flexibility (24 percent) and a lack of resources to support flexible work arrangements (21 percent).

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Researchers found most workers had not changed their working arrangements since the law came into force. 

Only 15 percent of employees had made changes in the past year, while more than three quarters (78 percent) had continued to work within their existing arrangements. 

Among the employees that had changed their work patterns, the most common change has been working full-time with the option to work remotely (57 percent), with men (65 percent) more likely than women (45 percent) to have made this change.

Researchers said that awareness of the right to request changes remains a key challenge despite the law making it easier for employees to request flexible working.

More than half (55 percent) of workers do not know what the Flexible Working Act entitles them to, while 36 percent report that their employer or manager has never proactively discussed it.

Sara Thompson, chief people officer at Phoenix Group, said: “The introduction of the Flexible Working Act is an important tool to help workers balance their jobs with other responsibilities and interests outside of work. It’s therefore disappointing that many are facing barriers with some employers worried about how flexibility could impact on a worker’s productivity. As the demand for flexibility grows, it is in employers’ best interests to engage proactively with their workforce and, where possible, to enable their workers to work in a flexible way, alongside managing business needs.

“Those businesses that fail to embrace flexible working risk losing talent, particularly among parents, carers, and older workers who can benefit most from greater flexibility. At Phoenix, we have fostered an environment where flexible working is the norm. Through facilitating more and better discussions, employers can tap into the potential of a diverse workforce, with flexibility having a positive impact on colleague engagement and also, ultimately helping people stay in employment for as long as they want and need while saving for their futures.”

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Benefits Unboxed
Benefits Unboxed

The podcast from Benefits Expert, the title for HR, reward and benefits professionals.

Seasoned professionals examine the challenges and innovations in today’s employee benefits, reward and HR sector. Every episode, they will unbox a key issue and unpack what it really means for employers and how they can tackle it.

The regulars are Claire Churchard, editor of Benefits Expert; Carole Goldsmith, HR director at the Royal Horticultural Society, and Steve Herbert, consultant and rewards & benefits veteran.

Benefits Unboxed – Wellbeing: HR is supporting everyone, but who’s supporting HR?
byBenefits Expert from Definite Article Media

As the professionals responsible for helping their organisations navigate NI hikes, rising employee stress levels and looming redundancies, the pressure on HR, reward and benefits teams has never been greater. 

HR is expected to lead with strength and compassion. But who is supporting the supporters?

In this episode of Benefits Unboxed, co-hosts Claire Churchard, Carole Goldsmith and Steve Herbert explore the emotional and ethical pressures HR face today, from managing redundancies to implementing complex legislation. They discuss why HR’s own wellbeing may not be the first topic of conversation, the risks that poses to employers, and the practical steps businesses can take to better support the wellbeing of the people who support everyone else.

This conversation shines a light on the resilience of the profession and why looking after HR is not just the right thing to do, but a business imperative.

Benefits Unboxed – Wellbeing: HR is supporting everyone, but who’s supporting HR?
Benefits Unboxed – Wellbeing: HR is supporting everyone, but who’s supporting HR?
22/05/2025
Benefits Expert from Definite Article Media
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