Millions of Australians will have the express right to request flexible working arrangements under changes to federal workplace laws.
The government has amended the Fair Work Act to broaden the right to request flexible working arrangements to more workers who need it.
However, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) said there needs to be more consultation with industry to make the amendments workable.
An independent panel reviewed the Act last year and found current provisions in the National employment Standards for requesting flexible arrangements were working effectively. However, many workers are not aware of their rights to request flexible work arrangements and recommended more workers get access to this right.
Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Bill Shorten said currently, the right to request flexible hours is limited to parents with responsibility for a child under school age or a child with disability aged under 18.
This will now be extended to include: workers with caring responsibilities; employees who are parents, or who have responsibility for the care of a child of school age; employees with disability; mature-age employees; workers experiencing family violence and workers providing personal care, support and assistance to a member of their immediate family or member of their household because they are experiencing family violence.
Shorten said the government will also amend the Fair Work Information Statement provided to every new employee to ensure they are aware of their rights to request flexible work arrangements.
In a statement, the ACCI said extending the right to request new work rosters, work locations or forms of work across a working lifetime for family reasons requires a wider suite of measures for it to be workable and fair for employers and small business.
“The proposal demands employers look seriously at agreeing to non-standard working arrangements when, on the other hand, parts of the fair work act and its awards restrict flexibility over rosters, part time, casual, contract work and individual agreement making – the very things employers will be asked to agree to.”
The ACCI said there are a number of shortcomings in the Fair Work Act that continue to restrict business efficiency.
