The role of health and safety in making flexible scheduling work

There is a legal requirement for employers to identify foreseeable risks associated with work related stress, prevent foreseeable harm caused by work related-stress, and consult with employees on issues regarding work-related stress.

Research indicates that manager-controlled flexible scheduling is a cause of stress. In fact, the Health and Safety Executive’s work-related stress management standards state that employees should be consulted over their work pattern.

Any employer which does not include flexible scheduling under its health and safety procedures is potentially opening itself up to litigation.

But just as importantly, the consultation between managers and employees which lies at the heart of the health and safety framework provides a way in which flexible scheduling can be made to work for both employers and employees.

Safety reps should be consulted on flexible scheduling and empowered to investigate the potential harm caused by scheduling. The risks and harms of flexible scheduling should also be discussed by health and safety committees.

Workshops

Learn why and how flexible scheduling can be incorporated into health and safety procedures at the University of Cambridge’s From zero joy to zero stress workshops being held at Broadway House Conference Centre, London on the 23rd November 2015 and Magdalene College Cambridge on the 30th November 2015. Featuring cutting edge research presented by experts from the University of Cambridge, CIPD and TUC. To register please  complete and submit the registration form.