Workplace Flexibility
Workplace Flexibility Around the World
Countries around the globe have turned to legislative solutions help workers balance their work and caregiving responsibilities.
- For a thorough review of these laws and their impact, Statutory Routes to Workplace Flexibility in Cross-National Perspective (2008), by Ariane Hegewisch and Janet Gornick is a good resource.
- Go here to learn more about how the United Kingdom’s Right to Request Law works
Workplace Flexibility in the United States
On March 3, 2009, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney introduced the Working Families Flexibility Act. The Act (H.R. 1274) is modeled on similar laws in Europe including the U.K. law. It would guarantee working Americans the right to request flexible work options to allow them to balance their work and family responsibilities, without fear of retaliation from their employers.
Some states have also considered their own versions of a Right to Request law. Click here to read testimony by Sherry Leiwant before the New Hampshire House Labor Committee.
Another key area for policy reform is around telecommuting, which serves to help workers balance work and family while also saving businesses money and reducing environmental impacts.
On December 9, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010, which requires executive agencies to establish policies authorizing telework. The law creates new opportunities for federal employees to work remotely and will draw attention to the tremendous benefits of workplace flexibility. Click here to learn more about the Telework Enhancement Act and to access the full text of the law.
Check out A Better Balance’s new fact sheets on workplace flexibility:
To read more about this issue click here.
