Flexi work hours for Britons

Jo Swinson, the employment relations minister, said the changes would boost the UK economy because productivity would rise with happier employees. Under the new rules, 20 million employees across the country are entitled to ask for flexible hours, including working from home. Employers will be obliged to consider requests reasonably, and millions are expected to take advantage of the changes. Until now, only parents and employees with other caring duties -about 10 million people-have had the right to request flexible working.

In an interview to The Independent, Swinson said: "Sometimes, because this has been a right to request that only parents have had, that can create, in some work places, a bit of tension when parents get special treat ment."

She said the new rules could involve compressed hours, where individuals do five days' work in four, staggered hours to avoid the stresses of rush hour, or working from home.

"Employers have found that this leads to workers being much more motivated, productive and less likely to leave. So that cuts down their staff recruitment costs. It really can be a win-win situation," the Liberal Democrat minister said.