Extend flexible rules

Unions believe new rules covering workers with young children should be extended to all staff.

BECTU and the NUJ have told the BBC that new rules, allowing workers with young children to request flexible working arrangements, should be extended to all Corporation staff.

Since the beginning of April 2003, people with children under six years, or disabled children under 18, have had a legal right to ask employers to modify their working patterns.

Managers are obliged to give an answer, and, if requests are turned down, must give an explanation which is consistent with the eight permissible reasons the law now allows for refusals.

In discussions last month (April 2003) about the changes necessary to the BBC's agreed statement on family policies, the unions called on management to give all staff the right to request flexibility, not just those covered by the new legislation, citing examples of staff who cared for aging parents or disabled relatives and partners.

Representatives acknowledged that the BBC's approach to family issues has often been more generous than the law required, and management assured the unions that the current practice of seriously considering all requests for flexible working would not change.

However, the proposed changes in the BBC's written policies were intended only to include the wording of the new law on flexible working, and no more.

Union representatives also suggested alterations to the BBC's provisions for maternity leave, also affected by the new legislation, which increases paid leave from 18 to 26 weeks. The 26 week qualifying period for new employees should be dropped, they said, and a new period of Additional Maternity leave, which allows a further 26 weeks off, should be paid at 50% of salary, instead of being unpaid.

A further meeting is due this month (May 2003) to explore the unions' suggestions, and meanwhile the BBC will handle requests for maternity leave and flexible working according to its draft policy, which will be published internally on the Gateway intranet.