Flexible workforces ‘key to growth’ say MPs and public

But government policy preoccupied with permanent staff, research claims

Both politicians and the public agree that promoting flexibility in the workforce is one of the keys to stimulating economic growth, yet government policy is too often primarily concerned with permanent workers, says new research.

The joint ComRes survey of 158 MPs and 2000 members of the public, commissioned by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation and freelance organization PCG, found that 86 per cent of MPs and 78 per cent of the public agreed that “encouraging a flexible labour force is important in stimulating economic growth.” When asked if the government should do more to encourage employers to take a flexible approach, 69 per cent of MPs and 79 per cent of the public agreed.

Moreover, most respondents among MPs (78 per cent) and the public (71 per cent) believed that businesses adopting flexible measures “got through the recession better than they otherwise would have done.”

The researchers said that the findings showed how there was a consensus that flexibility was a very desirable trait for business, and called for it to inform more areas of public policy, such as pensions, the new agency workers regulations, the benefits system, and tax. Temporary and freelance staff are an important ingredient to creating a flexible workforce but they are often forgotten as policymakers concentrate on the rights of permanent staff, they suggest.

“It’s abundantly clear from these results that both the public and MPs understand that flexible working is crucial to ongoing UK economic growth, however we feel policy is dangerously lagging behind,” said Simon McVicker, head of public affairs at PCG. “We are now calling for a clear and positive response from the government delivering definitive policy action that will not only allow freelancing to reach its full potential but will be a real help to the UK economy at this time.”

Tom Hadley, REC director of policy and professional services, added: “We must move away from the out-dated notion that traditional full-time work is the only viable or desirable form of employment. The assumption that all of those working in a part-time or temporary capacity are only doing so because they can’t find full-time work doesn't reflect reality. Instead, flexible working is embraced by individuals for a variety of reasons. Decision-makers must recognise this and support this important tool to promote much-needed economic growth.”

Source People Management