According to a study by the Equal Opportunities Commission, far fewer UK companies provide their staff with the opportunity for flexible working.

Of 8,000 firms questioned in the report, 90% of businesses in mainland Europe offered employees flexitime, compared to only 48% of UK companies. However, a previous survey by the British Chambers of Commerce found that 89% of UK businesses offer some form of flexible working.

Justice Minister Harriet Harman, who is currently running for the Labour Deputy leadership has said that the EOC report has highlighted a necessity for legislation concerning flexible working. She stated: "It's not good enough just to ask employers to 'consider' a request. The burden of proof should be on the employer to show why flexible working is not practical".

Director-general of the Institute of Directors, Miles Templeman, responded to the proposal of new legislation saying: "Regulation has a poor record in both encouraging innovative practice and in producing solutions that do not have unintended consequences, discriminating against smaller businesses in particular".

Earlier this year a report from the BCC indicated that 89% of UK firms do in fact offer some form of flexible working. With smaller businesses already feeling the strain of conforming with legislation, do we really need more regulation for flexible working when it has not been conclusively proven to be a problem?