Two-thirds of workers choose their jobs because of the
flexibility they offer, according to new polling, as the British
Retail Consortium (BRC) warns that poorly designed Guaranteed
Hours reforms could put those opportunities at risk, and that the
government must not regulate flexible jobs out of existence.
YouGov polling commissioned by the BRC found that 67% of
part-time workers took their role because they needed flexibility
around commitments such as study, childcare, caring
responsibilities or other aspects of everyday life. Among
part-time workers with children under 18, this rose to 80%.
The findings come as the Government launches its consultation on
Guaranteed Hours proposals under the Employment Rights Act -
reforms that will shape how flexible and part-time work is
offered across the economy.
The consultation covers key questions, such as how ‘low-hours'
contracts are defined, how working hours are measured over time,
and how shifts can be changed. These choices will determine the
extent to which retailers continue to offer flexible hours that
suit both businesses and workers, or whether they are forced to
lock in hours that are only needed at peak times.
For millions of people, flexible work is what makes employment
possible in the first place. It allows students to earn while
studying, parents to work around childcare, carers to balance
responsibilities and older workers to remain in employment.
Retail plays a major role in providing those opportunities. As
the UK's largest private sector employer, supporting nearly three
million jobs, more than half of all retail roles are part-time
(57.8%) - significantly above the UK average across the wider
economy.
But retail jobs are shaped by customer demand, which can vary
significantly from week to week and season to season. Businesses
often offer additional hours during busy periods, such as
Christmas or sales, and fewer hours when demand is lower.
Proposals that risk turning temporary peaks into permanent
contractual commitments could make it harder for employers to
offer those extra hours in the first place, reducing
opportunities for workers to earn more when they want or need it.
The Guaranteed Hours consultation comes shortly after the Milburn
Review highlighted the scale of the challenge facing youth
employment, with more than one million young people aged 16 to 24
not in education, employment or training.
Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail
Consortium, said:
"It's vital that we don't regulate
flexible jobs out of existence. Flexible and part-time work is
how millions of people make employment work for them - balancing
shifts alongside study, childcare or caring responsibilities, and
retail plays a vital role in providing those opportunities.
“For many workers, that flexibility isn't a ‘nice to have' - it's
what makes employment possible and allows them to take on extra
hours when it suits them. Retailers need to offer those
additional hours when demand is there, but they cannot guarantee
them all year round. If reforms mean temporary peaks become
permanent commitments for responsible businesses, they will offer
fewer hours in the first place – reducing both opportunity and
the flexibility that workers value and rely on.”
-ENDS-
Notes to editors:
- On reference periods: Retail staffing needs change throughout
the year, particularly during busy periods like Christmas. If
guaranteed hours are based on just 12 weeks of work, retailers
could be required to offer permanent hours that don't reflect
year-round demand. This could lead to fewer flexible and seasonal
jobs being available. A 26-week reference period would provide a
more accurate picture of typical working hours.
- On low hours: The Government is right to tackle exploitative
zero-hours contracts, but a definition of 'low-hours' that
extends to contracts of up to 20 hours a week risks going far
beyond that objective. Many people on regular part-time contracts
already have predictable working patterns and are not
experiencing the insecurity these reforms are designed to
address. An eight-hour threshold would provide a more
proportionate approach, targeting support at those facing the
greatest uncertainty while preserving the flexible roles that
many employees value.
- On notice for shift changes: Requiring up to four weeks'
notice for shift changes would be out of step with the realities
of retail.
Methodology:
- BRC analysis shows 57.8% of retail jobs are part-time,
compared with 32.3% across the whole economy, 35.7% in services
and 11.5% in manufacturing, underlining the industry's reliance
on flexible working patterns.
Fieldwork conducted by YouGov for the BRC. Sample size
was 2,136 and representative of all UK adults (aged 18+)
- When asked “I took this job because I need flexibility around
my other commitments”
- Part-time workers responded: 32% strongly agree, 35% slightly
agree, 4% slightly disagree, 15% strongly disagree, 6% Don't know
/ Prefer not to say
- Part-time workers with children under 18: 48% strongly agree,
32% slightly agree, 9% slightly disagree, 7% strongly disagree,
4% Don't know / Prefer not to say
