Flexible friends?

I'm now of an age of where caring responsibilities for older relations has become a reality for several of my contemporaries, but many feel unable to approach their employers and seek some flexibility over working hours to try and accommodate the inevitable rounds of hospital visits, shopping, cleaning, etc., as well as the desire to simply spend time with loved ones and ensure that they've had some human contact that day. Some friends have broached the subject with employers and been told as there's no legal requirement to do, their requests could not be accommodated. To my mind, pretty shocking behaviour, as all of them are responsible, long-standing and trust-worthy employees who could conduct elements of their work from home or outside normal office hours - and would probably be more productive and happier workers knowing that they'd fulfilled their personal responsibilities as well as their professional ones.

Whilst I am very supportive of flexible working for parents (NB not just mothers), I do not think it should be only those with children who are offered these arrangements. In fact, by offering this to one section of society and not another, this creates divisions. Let me give you an example.

I used to have a boss who thought nothing of asking me to attend early morning or evening events on behalf of the company, often at very short notice, on the basis that I did not have children. True, but that's a personal choice. When, on occasion, I couldn't help out as I had other plans - or, to be honest, was simply knackered and needed a night at home - my commitment to my job was questioned. When the situation was reversed and I needed someone to fill in for me as I had double-booked myself (both work engagements, as it happened), I was told that I was being unreasonable in asking someone with a family to give up precious time with their children. Hmmm.

So, should we have flexible working? Yes, I truly believe that it is the way forward - but make it available to everyone.

I've been chewing on this for about a month now, and here's my suggestion to level the playing field:

• Everyone has the right to request flexible working, with all applications being assessed against Government-set criteria which would take into account various industry models and the nature of particular jobs.
• A robust appeals process is set up, run by an organisation like the Commission for Equality and Human Rights
• Everyone of working age in employment in the UK should be entitled to, say, 2 sabbaticals over the course of their working career, paid for by Government at the prevailing statutory maternity pay levels and equal in length to the maternity leave provisions of the day.

(I suspect that this would also drive SMP upwards as more people would realise how derisory these payments really are.)

I'm no economist, so these rough ideas probably have more holes than a leaky colander, but perhaps there is the start of a conversation here? Anyone got any better ideas?