Kristina Keneally, the former Labour NSW premier writes in yesterday’s Guardian Australia about the ACTU’s submission to the Fair Work Commission that employers should have to justify their reasons for refusing an employee’s request to work part time or flexibly. Inevitably, it’s quite a politicised piece. Politics aside, it’s my observation that women (and men) returning to work part time as new parents, are some of the most motivated and productive in the workforce. They are delighted to be given the opportunity to work part time, and don’t want to let their employer down as a result.

Sure, they won’t be hanging around the office chatting after hours, but they jolly well make sure they get the job done before it’s time to go. I was given that opportunity by a very enlightened (male) boss almost twenty years ago and I have never forgotten it. Needless to say, I worked very,very hard.

Here is Kristina’s article.