Recruitment
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what discussions his Department has had with recruitment agencies and employers on the potential merits of (a) offering informal pre-interview calls and (b) discussing flexible working options during the application process, rather than post-offer.
Answered by Department for Work and Pensions
The Government is engaging with employers and learning from best practice as we implement flexible working reforms. Many employers already discuss ways of working during recruitment, or set out scope for flexible working in job adverts.
Our flexible working reforms are intended to improve dialogue and collaboration around flexibility between employers and employees. While they apply from the first day of employment, and employers will remain free to design recruitment processes that best meet their needs, we hope these reforms will encourage earlier conversations about flexibility.
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