British military to introduce flexi-time working for armed forces

LONDON, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Members of Britain's armed services will be able to apply for flexible working time under a new law announced Friday by the Ministry of Defense (MOD).

It follows the granting Thursday by Queen Elizabeth of a flexible working bill for the British military allowing service personnel to be able to apply for enhanced flexible working opportunities.

The MOD said consultation within the armed forces found that the personnel want more choice over the way they serve when their personal circumstances change, such as having young children, needing to care for elderly relatives, or taking on further training and education.

Personnel will also be able to restrict the amount of time they spend away from their home base and their families.

The plans, which will come into effect in 2019, are part of a range of measures the armed forces are implementing to become more modern and diverse, the MOD added.

Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson said: "This change will make it significantly easier for our dedicated Armed Forces to raise their children, care for elderly relatives, or look after an ill family member. This will ensure we are able to retain and recruit the brightest and the best from all backgrounds to keep Britain safe."

The MOD said applications for part-time service and restricted separation will be assessed against the need of the armed forces, and personnel would be required to deploy on operations should the need arise, such as in cases of national emergency.

Currently around 96 percent of British employers offer flexible working for some of their civilian employees, and research has found that offering flexible working encourages people to stay with their current employer. Enditem