FLEXIBLE working could bring more people into the labour force and see workers “gain greater control and empowerment over their working lives,” Scotland’s largest trade union body said today.

Scottish TUC general secretary Roz Foyer made the statement after a Flexibility Scotland survey of 208 people looking for work found that 28 per cent said more flexible working could “make the difference” in enabling them to land a job.

Should that prove representative, it could mean that as many as 25,000 of the 89,700 currently unemployed in Scotland may benefit from a change in employer attitude. 

The situation is even more acute for unemployed parents, the organisation found, with 42 per cent seeing it as a barrier to work. 

Flexibility Works co-founder and director Nikki Slowey said: “For many people, flexible working isn’t just a perk, it’s absolutely essential in order to work at all.

“We’re encouraging employers to promote the flexible working they already have, and to explore where they can create flexibility when designing and advertising jobs.”

Echoing that call, Ms Foyer said: “When done correctly, flexible working can be a win-win for all parties concerned. 

“It gives employers a greater selection pool of candidates to choose from, allowing those who can work to return to the workplace. 

“It further allows workers to gain greater control and empowerment over their working lives, rebalancing the power dynamic within the workplace that has, for too long, been tilted towards the bosses rather than the workforce.”

SNP business and employment secretary Richard Lochhead commented: “With the limited powers at our disposal, the Scottish government has supported flexible, family-friendly working from day one of employment where we can.”