Awareness Of The Employment Relations (Flexible Working Arrangements) Amendment Act 2007

Key findings

• 64% of employers are aware of the Act, but only 17% are aware of the eligibility criterion.
• Larger organisations are more likely than small organisations to be aware of the Act.
• 40% of employees are aware of the Act.
• One to two months before the introduction of the Act, only 4% of employers had been approached about the Act by their staff.
• Employers are most likely to go the Department of Labour (67%), the internet (66%) or an employer organisation (58%) for information on flexible working arrangements or the Act.
• Employees are most likely to go to colleagues and friends (74%), the internet (71%) or their employer (70%) for information.

How aware are people of the Act?

Figure 9: Awareness of Employment Relations (Flexible Working Arrangements) Amendment Act 2007

Data Table for Figure 9

At the time of surveying (April-May 2008), employers were much more likely to be aware of the Act than employees. Employers in organisations employing more than 50 people were more likely to be aware of the Act than employers in small organisations. Employers in the government, administration and defence sectors were more likely to be aware of the legislation (84%), while those involved in the construction sector had significantly lower levels of awareness (52%).

Among employees, younger employees aged 20-29 were significantly less likely to be aware of the Act (23%), whereas those aged 40 and over were significantly more likely to be aware (52-54%). Maori were also less likely to be aware of the Act (30%)

Eligibility criterion

Employers' awareness of the eligibility criterion was markedly lower than their general awareness of the Act. To be eligible for the 'right to request', an employee must have the care of a person and have been employed by their employer for six months prior to making a request for flexible work. Only 17% of employers stated that they were aware of the criterion. Again, larger organisations were more likely to be aware than smaller.

Organisations in the property and business services sectors were more likely to know of the criterion (25%) than those in the construction sector (9%).

Where do employers go for information?

Employers were prompted about what sources of information they were likely to use about flexible work and the Act.

• 67% reported they would go to the Department of Labour
• 66% the internet
• 58% an employer organisation
• 52% colleagues or friends.

Employers with more than 100 staff were more likely to report that they would approach the Department of Labour (80%), an employer organisation (76%) or a lawyer (45%). Businesses with fewer than five employees were more likely to ask their accountant (43%).

Where do employees go for information?

When asked where they would go for help or information about the Act or working arrangements that can assist them to achieve a good work-life balance, employees were most likely to go to:

• colleagues and friends (74%)
• internet (71%)
• their employer (70%)
• Department of Labour (61%).