In 2014, a UK policy change gave all employees the right to request flexible working after six months on the job. This study found that the change led more women to reduce their working hours, which helped lower stress and improve life satisfaction. However, men didn’t show the same increase in flexible working, and the policy didn’t boost other types of flexible arrangements like flexitime or working from home. While helpful for some, the policy may unintentionally reinforce gender gaps by encouraging more women into part-time roles.
Baowen Xue et al. | Does the ‘right to request’ flexible work policy influence men’s and women’s uptake of flexible working and well-being: findings from the UK Household Longitudinal Study | Journal of Epidemiology and Public Health, 2025