A coalition of 26 businesses, trade unions, professionals and community groups have launched a new organisation to promote flexible working hours for all employees.
The Quality Flexible Working Hours Coalition gathered at parliament on Monday to promote Green Party MP Sue Kedgley's private member's bill.
Kedgley says the rigid 40 hour week has become something of a straitjacket in New Zealand. She says it causes unnecessary stress and inconvenience to families where parents are in the paid workforce, and prevents many older New Zealanders from working.
Kedgley says flexible employment practices will benefit employers as well, by increasing staff morale and productivity, as well as reducing absenteeism, stress-related illnesses and staff turnover.
The bill gives workers the right to ask for flexible start and finish times, to work from home, job sharing and flexible rosters and breaks.
Just how flexible the flexible working hours may be will ultimately still be up to the employer. However they will have to follow certain new guidelines when considering a workers request, and if they do not the worker can appeal.
Coalition spokeswoman Laila Harre says we are near the top of the OECD as far as working hours are concerned and the legislation to implement flexible working hours is long overdue.
She says even the United Kingdom has brought in laws to ensure employers are obligated to consider introducing flexible working hours for employees.
Jennifer Jones of the Student Association's Union says there is currently a total power imbalance with students and employers. "Particularly when you're rostered on and you don't want to risk not being rostered on for a particular weekend and losing your rent money in the week."
