Commenting on the Government's promised to consult with business on extending the right to request flexible working to all employees, Sarah Jackson, chief executive of Working Families (pictured), said: "We know flexible working works best when it becomes part of the way we work, not just a concession to particular groups. This is a great step forward towards balanced working lives for all."
Reform of the Access to Work (AtW) programme so that disabled applicants can apply for jobs with funding already secured was another proposal that received a positive response. It could make it easier for employers to make the most of the talents of disabled people, according to Employers' Forum on Disability (EFD). Delivered by Jobcentre Plus, AtW provides advice and support to disabled people and their employers to help remove barriers to finding and keeping a job.
Susan Scott-Parker, chief executive of EFD, said: "We welcome any plans to consider the needs of disabled people, who are more than twice as likely as non-disabled people to be out of work and claiming benefits. "
The coalition document confirmed that the salaries and expenses of the highest-paid public-sector workers will now be published online. From now on, any public-sector worker paid more than the prime minister must have their salary signed off by the Treasury. Meanwhile councils will have to publish the minutes of meetings and public-sector workers are to get the right to form employee-owned co-operatives
On pensions reform, proposed simplification to the rules has received positive responses. Joanne Segars, head of the National Association of Pension Funds, said. "There have been 800 changes to pension regulations since 1995 - flexibility should slow the exodus from defined benefit schemes in the private sector we are seeing at the moment."
Following the release of the Lib-Con policy document, Owen Warnock, partner at international law firm Eversheds, said: "Working Time Regulations will probably also come in for close scrutiny. The coalition has already said it plans to work to limit the effect of the EU Directive on which the regulations, but a dramatic cull of employment laws is out of the question. Quite apart from the unlikelihood of the Lib-Dems agreeing to such an approach, much of our legislation is a requirement of EU membership; and although the Government's stated commitment to avoid 'gold-plating' EU rules means that some of those regulations could be scaled back, there is only so far the government can go."
The Forum of Private Business's head of policy, Matthew Goodman, said: "We're encouraged by the coalition's pledge to evaluate the fairness of employment legislation, and its impact on Britain's competitiveness. Many small business owners believe employment law is grossly skewed in favour of the employee - the need for a more fair and balanced approach is something the Forum has repeatedly highlighted." He added: "However, the challenge now is for the Government to translate these intentions into real, practical changes to the business environment, without simply creating more state bureaucracy and unnecessary compliance costs at a time when many small businesses are still struggling.
The next major date is expected to be 22 June, when the Government is thought to be revealing it's emergency Budget
