With the federal government’s consultation underway on whether Canadians should be allowed more flexibility in their working arrangements, proponents have come out on both sides of the debate.
According to MaryAnn Mihychuck, the minister of employment, workforce development and labour, who launched the consultation on May 16, the right to request flexible working arrangements should be available to all federally regulated employees.
“It’s time we gave Canadians the flexibility they need to balance their busy lives at home and at work,” said Mihychuck. “Our plan will do just that, and I’m looking forward to hearing from Canadians about how flexible work arrangements could help them.”
Read: Liberals launch flexible working consultation
Critics, like Benefits Canada‘s associate editor Jann Lee, say the government’s consultation has many shortcomings. For instance, many employers already provide flexible working, thus legislation isn’t necessary. And, there is a risk of complications for employers that will have to decide what requests are valid while managing employee accountability and productivity.
Read: My Take: Flex work should be an employer perk, not an obligation
The issue is the topic of this week’s online poll. Should employers have a duty to provide these options? Is it a modern and efficient arrangement or does it pose too many downsides to be effective? Have your say here.
Last week’s poll, which asked whether or not benefits plans should cover medical marijuana, resulted in a clear majority. Some 82 per cent of respondents believe medical marijuana is a legitimate therapy, while less than a fifth (18 per cent) believe there is insufficient evidence to support its supposed positive effects.
Read: Veterans Affairs urged to better manage drug plan, marijuana costs