MEN are more likely than women to be turned down if they ask their boss if they can work flexibly, research shows.

The TUC said today about 10% of fathers of children aged under six had taken advantage of the right to request flexible working, compared with 19% of women.

Only one in 10 working mums had had their request turned down, compared with 14% of men, according to the study of 3,200 people.

And the TUC said all employees should have the chance to work flexibly, not just parents and carers.

Only a handful of disappointed workers whose requests were rejected ever took their employers to a tribunal, and claims submitted by men were much less likely to be successful, said the report.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "Many UK bosses are too short-sighted to grasp the fact that a flexible approach to work is not something to fear as expensive and irritating, but a change which makes sound business sense, both in terms of company profits, and staff recruitment and retention.

"The UK's long hours culture will never be challenged if it's only parents and carers who can ask to change their hours."