Welcome to this living history of flexible working in the UK. This is a dynamic, developing archive, that captures the voices and experiences of many of the key players in the work-life revolution that has taken place over the past 50 years.
Flexible working began to take shape in the UK in the late 1970s. Since then, the impact it has had on how work is organised has been both unimaginable to its early champions, and yet undoubtedly disappointing. The vast majority of UK employees work flexibly in some way or other today; but increased take-up of flexibility has not ushered in the hoped-for new world of greater gender equality at home and at work, nor of greater leisure and life balance for all.
This website sets out to capture the story of how flexible working has developed and changed in the UK over the past half century. Here you will hear the voices of the campaigners for working mothers (and fathers, and carers); of the employers who led the flexible working charge; of the politicians who argued for and introduced legislative change; and of the researchers who tracked it all unfolding.
You will also find framing context, in the story of flex timeline; and signposts and links to further reading and additional resources.
Contributions
If you would like to contribute to this site, please contact me. I am also happy to receive images, photos and videos to add to the site. Guidelines for contributors are here.
