Credit crunch 'puts strain on flexible working'

Employees are unlikely to maintain their flexible approaches towards working hours as the credit crunch takes hold, according to a law firm.

The advice from lawyers Nabarro could indicate that those funding their education through jobs may see changes in their working patterns.

Companies are also putting 'recruitment on ice' and making major job cuts to survive the economic downturn, the firm also pointed out.

Employment Partner at Nabarro, Julie Quinn, commented that the credit crunch is making it increasingly unlikely that employers will be able to offer elasticity when it comes to schedules.

'Many organisations have headcount statistics which do not support part-time working or job sharing. Someone working three days out of five is not three-fifths of a full headcount,' she elaborated.

The Government announced today that it would hold discussions concerning the extension of flexible hours programmes in order to enable parents of older children to maintain a better balance between home and family life.