Flexible working is not an option for many of Britain’s two-tier workforce

A new report from the social enterprise Timewise claims to reveal a growing divide in the UK workforce, highlighting the increasing gap between frontline workers, such as nurses, cleaners, and bus drivers, and office-based employees when it comes to flexible working hours and patterns. This divide, the report suggests, could be reduced if the government takes further steps to implement its upcoming Employment Rights Bill.

The report, titled Ending the Two-Tier Workforce, notes that while office workers have seen significant changes in their working conditions, particularly with the rise of flexible hours, shift-based workers have been left behind. According to Timewise’s findings, between 2019 and 2024, more than 1.3 million people in higher-paid desk-based jobs gained access to flexible working hours. However, the number of shift workers able to vary their hours has remained static, at just 6 percent—or 200,000 people—over the same period.

This disparity is further illustrated by the fact that 19 percent of people in managerial and professional roles now enjoy flexible working hours, compared to just 4 percent of those in routine occupations. Moreover, while the debate over return-to-office mandates continues to make headlines, 40 percent of UK workers, particularly those in frontline roles, have no choice but to work onsite, preventing them from benefiting from hybrid or remote working arrangements that could improve their work-life balance.

The report points to the critical role of flexible working in improving mental wellbeing. Research from the Healthier Working Lives Commission shows that having control over working hours has positive effects on both health and wellbeing, while a lack of control is linked to poorer mental and physical health.

There are currently 10.5 million people in the UK working in frontline jobs across vital sectors such as healthcare, transport, childcare, construction, and retail. These industries are facing severe recruitment and retention challenges, with workers increasingly rejecting jobs that offer rigid, inflexible hours. For example, 85 percent of construction firms and 76 percent of transport firms are struggling to recruit staff, while 78 percent of childcare providers report difficulties in hiring workers.

Timewise’s report argues that the government’s proposed Employment Rights Bill, which promises to improve workers’ rights and save low-paid workers up to £600 per year, could help address these issues. However, the social enterprise warns that without further action to support implementation, the benefits of the Bill may not reach the lowest-paid, frontline workers.

In response to these concerns, four business leaders representing sectors employing almost nine million workers have backed Timewise’s call for the government to take immediate action. They urge the Department for Business and Trade to establish industrial forums that bring together employers, unions, and sector bodies to tackle sector-specific challenges, with transport, logistics, and construction as priority areas. Additionally, they propose the creation of a Modern Working Lives Taskforce to ensure the successful implementation of the Employment Rights Bill in low-paying sectors, and the development of sector-specific guidance to support flexible working across industries.

Timewise believes that with the right support and coordination, the government can bridge the widening gap between desk-based and frontline workers, ensuring that all employees, regardless of their role, can benefit from flexible, predictable, and secure working patterns.