Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has had discussions with employers to encourage them to offer (a) part-time work and (b) flexible work to people with long covid.

The Department speaks regularly with employers about flexible working – including part time work. These discussions have covered a range of issues, including the importance of flexible working in managing employees with long term health conditions, such as long covid.

In December 2022 the Government announced plans[1] to make the right to request flexible working a day one right, alongside other changes to make flexible working more accessible to all employees. The Government is pleased to support the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Private Members’ Bill[2] which will deliver several of these changes.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/making-flexible-working-the-default

[2] https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3198