According to a survey by the British Chamber of Commerce, 89% of businesses provide some form of flexible working.

So why has there been a big push in government legislation about flexible working when so many businesses seem to be providing it already?

The answer may simply be that the government isn't aware of what SMEs are providing their workers, as 84% of businesses also said that they had no written "work-life" policy.

The lack of a formal document outlining company policy on flexible working could be the reason that the government seems unaware that SMEs are already providing different options for their employees.

For more information about the BCC survey, click here .