The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) has called for the Government to extend the right to request flexible working to all employees, following Tuesdays closure of the consultation around the Walsh Review.

The institute supports the case for allowing parents with children up to the age of 16 to request flexible working and called for more government emphasis on the benefits of flexible working.

Research commissioned by the institute shows only 29% of members support the idea to delay the extension of flexible working and 57% support ‘flexible working for all'.

The report shows 89% managers regularly work more than their contracted hours and unpaid overtime effectively gives employers 40 days worth of free work every year.

Sainsbury's HR director, Imelda Walsh, was commissioned by the Government to investigate how flexible working could best work in the UK.

Speaking exclusively to  HR magazine  this week, she said: "The reasons for extending the right to request are the same today as they were seven months ago. The right to request is the correct approach, the protection for business to say no is robust and there is no reason to lower the age range."

To read more about Walsh's take on flexible working, click HERE