Low-paid and sick workers less likely to have flexible working options: 'Not a nice-to-have'

Workers with long-term health conditions are more likely to be in jobs without flexibility on working hours and location, new research has found.

Low-income workers are also a third less likely to have the same flexibility in their jobs, compared to high-income staff, according to a survey by Lancaster University’s Work Foundation think tank.

On the back of the findings, the foundation called for employers to get ahead of a change in the law coming in 2027’s Employment Rights Bill and make flexible working options the default.

“Flexible working is not a perk or a ‘nice to have’ – it can make the difference between someone suffering with their health being able to remain in work, or to return,” said Ben Harrison, director of the Work Foundation.

“Our analysis indicates that workers who face a health setback without any job flexibility are four times more likely to leave work,” Harrison added.

“At a time of rising health challenges in the UK, employers should get ahead of upcoming legislative changes by reviewing how they can support all their workers to have access to different forms of flexibility in 2026. Introducing new forms of flexibility will disproportionately support disabled workers, especially those in low paid sectors.”

Read more:

• The Employment Rights Act is here. Will 2026 be the year that work gets better?
• The Employment Rights Bill is a moment to celebrate – but the work is not done
• Employers are being urged to step up and help disabled people stay in work. But is it enough?

The survey of 3,796 working people found those with long-term health conditions were nine percentage points less likely to be in jobs where they have autonomy over their tasks and working hours, and 12 percentage points less likely to have flexibility over where they work.

It also discovered that low-income workers were 28 percentage points less likely to have flexibility on daily tasks, 29 percentage points less likely to have flexible working hours, and 39 percentage points less likely to have wiggle room on the location of their work.

Those given flexibility over their work found it useful, the research showed.

When the Employment Rights Bill comes into force in 2027, it will make flexible working options the default – currently workers have the legal right to request it from day one.

“It is overwhelmingly those in higher-paid roles who are able to work flexibly and have the freedom to make decisions about their tasks at work,” said Clare McNeil, chief executive of Timewise, a non-profit campaigning for flexible work.

“Those in lower paid roles also need access to this if we are to tackle near record levels of inactivity due to long-term sickness or disability. It’s time for businesses in all sectors of the economy to get smarter and use flexibility as a tool to attract and keep the best people.”

The findings come amid the Labour government’s drive to get sick and disabled people back into the workplace. The push includes £338 million in funding to help overcome barriers to work.

Around half of disabled people are in work, with the government aiming to increase that figure to 80%.
Alongside flexible working, campaigners said the Employment RIghts Bill will also help people with disabilities into work by fixing “historic injustices” around sick pay and financial support.

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