Small companies have a better record of accepting requests for flexible working than larger ones, according to the government's Walsh Review.

Statistics from the British Chamber of Commerce revealed that 89% of small firms already offer some form of flexible working to employees, ranging from working from home, part-time work, compressed hours or flexi-time.

The main benefits were revealed as an improvement in work/life balance, cited by 71%, better staff retention (60%) and increased productivity (58%).

The government has accepted a recommendation by the review to extend the right to request flexible working to parents of children up to the age of 16.

The government has developed a range of guides, interactive tools and advice to help small businesses manage requests to work flexibly, available at www.businesslink.gov.uk/flexibleworking [1].