More than half employers (55%) welcome plans by the government to introduce legislation requiring them to offer flexible working to all employees, according to research out today from Hays.

The Hays survey shows 70% expect an increase in requests for flexible working and nearly 40% are bracing themselves for a resulting impact on their budgets.

The survey of over 680 workers and 420 employers undertaken in June found that more private sector employers expect an increase in their costs if staff take up the offer of flexible working than in the public sector (44% compared to 33%).

From the perspective of employees, almost half of all workers (46%) say their current employer does not encourage flexible working, rising to over half in the private sector. Furthermore, some of the options most sought after by employees are the ones they believe are unavailable.