Flexible working 'offered in most organisations'

Almost two-thirds of businesses in the UK (63 per cent) offer some kind of flexible working arrangements to their staff.

That's according to a new poll commissioned by mobile provider Orange, which also found that 72 per cent of firms believe flexible working opportunities improve staff morale.

In addition, more than half of people with management skills feel that working flexibility boosts productivity as well as staff retention.

However, more than a third of organisations still do not offer any flexible working arrangements to employees.

Paul Tollet, vice-president of business at Orange UK, said: "It's great that over half the UK working population is able to take advantage of flexible working.

"But the fact that over 35 per cent of employers have yet to consider it is surprising, particularly when the benefits are well acknowledged."

Earlier this year, the government extended the right to request flexible working from parents with children under the age of six to parents with children under the age of 16.