Anna Whitehouse, Flex Appeal

Anna has tackled the topic of flexible working since 2015. She’s since started an online community of and for ‘people who happen to be parents’, Mother Pukka. Her flex appeal campaign was first mentioned to me by a friend a year or so back and I’ve followed her journey ever since.

The UK workplace is simply not set up to support women to balance the challenges of motherhood with a fulfilling career. The system punishes women, makes them feel that by requesting flexibility they would be seen as 'difficult' and less committed to their job, and this is forcing mothers out of the workplace at an alarming rate. 44% of women feel nervous that starting a family might have an impact on their career, and 48% of new mothers feel overlooked for promotions and special projects on their return to work.

check out motherpukka.co.uk

And it’s obviously not just a problem for women to tackle alone. Nearly nine million UK workers say they want to work flexibly but don’t have the option. Anna believes ‘flexible working isn’t a ‘nice to have’ nor is it a ‘bonus’, it’s a fundamental change to the fabric of our working lives.’

We couldn’t agree more.

Since 2014, any person that has been in a role longer than 26 weeks has the statutory right to request flexible working. A survey by the TUC in 2017 found that two in five low-paid young parents who ask for flexible work arrangements are penalised for it: either through worse shifts, fewer hours or even losing their job.

Many employers are still unwilling to think beyond the 9-5, and Anna is fighting back, donning lycra and organising flash mobs across the country, to promote the flexible working message.

We cannot wait to tune in to the upcoming TED talk! Find out more about Anna and support the campaign and the flexible working movement as a whole here.