Forties People

People aged over-40 looking for office jobs in London could benefit from new government proposals aimed at extending flexible working hours to all employees.

In an attempt to foster a change in working practices, ministers may allow employees to request flexible working hours as soon as they start a new position, the Guardian reports.

Yvette Cooper, the work and pensions secretary, told the newspaper that she is working alongside businesses and organisations to ensure that men and non-parents have improved access to flexible working options.

"A lot of employers have found that offering the right to request flexible working more widely actually helped them in their business, and they've been willing to look at it for employees in all circumstances," she commented.

Ms Cooper has called for a "cultural change" in approaches to working practices, although she conceded that, in some examples, this would not be possible - particularly among teachers and the nature of certain businesses.

This comes after the government outlined new paternity and maternity leave policies, which it said would allow parents more choice and flexibility.