Many parents who ask for flexible work when their children are young have to accept a cut in their salary or job status, according to a new survey published today.

The survey by The Maternity Alliance, looked at the right to request flexible work one year after it was introduced and found that whilst 68% of parents had their request for flexible work agreed or reached a compromise, 27% of these parents ended up with worse conditions.

The new rules say parents with a child under six can ask employers for a change in working hours, day or location of work, provided they have been with the employer for six months.

Liz Kendall, Maternity Alliance director said, “Many parents feel forced to accept a cut in salary or job status in order to secure at least some flexibility in their work. Others continue to struggle to juggle long hours and heavy workloads or decide to give up work completely.”

The survey also found that:

• 25% of parents did not know they had a ‘right’ to ask for flexible work when their children are young.
• 25% of parents had their request refused. This was often for minor changes such as arriving and leaving work 15 minutes later.
• 45% of parents said their employer did not know or did not follow the correct procedure for considering their request for flexible work. 92% of parents whose employer refused a request said they did so for reasons not allowed by the law.
• 25% of parents had their request for flexible work agreed and said it was going well.

Liz Kendall, Director of The Maternity Alliance said: “The problems many parents face in balancing their work and family lives are often felt most acutely when their children are very young.”

“…a significant number of employers and employees are still unaware of the new law and how it should work in practice. Too many parents are having their request refused for unjustifiable reasons and a substantial proportion of parents who ask for flexible work are ending up worse off.”

“The Government must address these problems when it reviews the new right in 2006 to ensure all parents with young children have the chance to work flexibly.”