Skip to main content
Thinking about starting a business? Have an idea to explore – or ready to launch? The MEC Resource Centre is here to support you

Search

For a successful business, you need a viable business idea, the skills to make it work and the funding. Discover whether your idea has what it takes.

Forming your business correctly is essential to ensure you are protected and you comply with the rules. Learn how to set up your business.

Advice on protecting your wellbeing, self-confidence and mental health from the pressures of starting and running a business.

Learn why business planning is an essential exercise if your business is to start and grow successfully, attract funding or target new markets.

It is likely you will need funding to start your business unless you have your own money. Discover some of the main sources of start up funding.

Businesses and individuals must account for and pay various taxes. Understand your tax obligations and how to file, account and pay any taxes you owe.

Businesses are required to comply with a wide range of business laws. We introduce the main rules and regulations you must comply with.

Marketing matters. It drives sales and helps promote your brand and products. Discover how to market your business and reach your target customers.

Some businesses need a high street location whilst others can be run from home. Understand the key factors from cost to location, size to security.

Your employees can your biggest asset. They can also be your biggest challenge. We explain how to recruitment and manage staff successfully.

It is likely your business could not function without some form of IT. Learn how to specify, buy, maintain and secure your business IT.

Few businesses manage the leap from start up to high-growth business. Learn what it takes to scale up and take your business to the next level.

A social enterprise is a business that trades to tackle social problems, improve communities, people’s life chances, or the environment.  A social enterprise is a business, not a charity, that makes money and profit. 

Flexible working should be a day-one right says CIPD

2 February 2021

Despite a rise in home working because of the pandemic, new research shows that nearly half of employees still do not have flexible working in their current role.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has launched a new campaign, #FlexFrom1st, calling for flexible working requests to be a legal right for employees from their first day on the job.

Currently, employees can only make a request for flexible working after 26 weeks of employment, and this is limited to one request every 12 months. The CIPD is calling on the government to make requests for flexible working a right from day one for all employees, as well as revisiting the business reasons for rejection and the 12-month timeframe.

It comes as a new survey by the CIPD of over 2,000 employees has found that while the coronavirus pandemic has driven a huge increase in working from home, 44% of employees have not worked from home at all since the beginning of the crisis. The majority of those employees (92%) say that this is because the nature of their job doesn't allow them to.

However, the findings show that nearly half (46%) of all employees say they do not have flexible working arrangements - such as flexi-time, part-time working, compressed hours or job shares - in their current role. The CIPD also found that:

  • 19% of employees say they work for organisations that do not offer any flexible working arrangements;
  • 41% of employees say it's unfair that some people can work from home while others have little flexibility in how they work;
  • 75% of employees agree that it is important that people who can't work from home can work flexibly in other ways.

"While many have hailed the pandemic as a driver for the adoption of flexible working practices, particularly around home working, the reality for many is that this is not the case," said Peter Cheese, CIPD chief executive. "We need a new understanding about what flexible working is and we need employers to embrace flexible working arrangements beyond home working, to give opportunity and choice to all. Employees may not always be able to change where they work, but they should have more choice and a say in when and how they work.

"Being able to build in flexible working arrangements, such as changes to hours, term-time working or job shares, will empower people to have greater control and flexibility in their working life. This is good for inclusion … it's also good for people's wellbeing and productivity."

According to the CIPD, employees who have flexibility report significantly higher levels of satisfaction with their job, work-life balance and control over their work. It says that businesses that embrace flexible working benefit from increased productivity and employee retention.

The CIPD research also shows that there is a significant gap between the arrangements employees currently use compared to those that they would prefer. Flexi-time is currently used by 21% of employees, yet desired by 39%, while part-time hours (four days or less) are currently used by 19%, yet desired by 28%. Just 3% of employees currently use compressed hours (working full-time hours in fewer days), while 19% would use this arrangement if available.

However, half of employers (50%) say they will be more likely to grant requests for flexible working, besides working from home, once the pandemic restrictions have been relaxed.

Written by Rachel Miller.

Stay up-to-date with business advice and news

Sign up to the lively and colourful newsletter for new and more established small businesses.