London - Parents in Britain will be able to negotiate flexible working hours to meet family needs under regulations announced yesterday. The Trade and Industry Secretary, Ms Patricia Hewitt, said the scheme was a response to fathers and mothers wanting more choice about how they balance work and family.
Under the new rules, employees wanting flexible working hours can make a written request to their employers, and they then meet to see if it can be arranged.
Employers can turn down a request if they can show it would hurt their business, but employees can appeal and go to an industrial tribunal.
