Labour has pledged to enhance employees’ rights to flexible working arrangements, proposing measures aimed at making it easier for workers to request remote or flexible hours. The announcement was made by Louise Haigh, serving as the party’s de facto deputy leader, during the annual meeting of trade unions held in Brighton.
Under the proposed changes, employers would be required to provide explicit justification when denying flexible working requests and engage in direct discussions with employees to explain their decisions. Additionally, the plan seeks to delegate the authority to approve flexible working requests from senior management to line managers, streamlining the process.
Haigh emphasized the importance of treating all flexible working requests seriously, while acknowledging that not all jobs or requests could be accommodated. Speaking on behalf of Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who was absent due to a family bereavement, she stated that Labour intends to “strengthen the right to flexible working” as part of its broader commitment to workers’ rights.
The government’s move received support from Trade Union Congress (TUC) General Secretary Paul Nowak, who described it as a positive step that “makes it harder for employers to turn down requests while giving workers a stronger voice.”
The timing of Labour’s announcement comes amid contentious debates over recent labour legislation, including the Employment Rights Act, which has eased the ability of trade unions to organize strikes. The Labour Party’s position has drawn criticism from conservative figures. Shadow Chancellor Andrew Griffith accused Labour of failing to understand business needs, describing the proposals as “job-sapping red tape” for the private sector and a “shirker’s charter” for the public sector. Similarly, Reform Party Deputy Leader Richard Tice condemned the plans as “meddling” that would hinder business operations.
In addition to flexible working reforms, Haigh used her address at the union conference to highlight concerns about artificial intelligence (AI). She cautioned Labour to pay attention to warnings from AI developers about the potential existential risks posed by the technology. This followed recent calls from Silicon Valley company OpenAI for the UK to implement stringent regulations on AI development. Labour had previously committed in its manifesto to introduce binding regulations on powerful AI models but abandoned those plans in December.
The proposals underscore Labour’s ongoing focus on workplace rights and emerging technological challenges, while eliciting debate over the potential impact on businesses and regulatory frameworks.