Bradford businesses are going to face increasing pressures to keep their staff happy and their businesses family friendly.

Human resources consultant Martyn Potter claims workers are now demanding a better balance between work and life out of the office.

"There is now more emphasis by employees on getting the work/life balance right and that means a higher salary isn't always top of the agenda," said Mr Potter, of business advisers PKF.

His comments come as a new survey shows a high absence rate by employees in the UK who also work more hours than those in the rest of Europe but are well behind in terms of production per person than France, Germany and the US.

A recent online poll revealed that 46 per cent chose flexible working as the benefit they would look for in their next job, with only seven per cent favouring gym membership and ten per cent a company car.

Mr Potter will highlight the aspects of flexible working and new "family friendly legislation" at a seminar for employers in the Leeds office of accountants and business advisors PKF on June 26. The other speaker will be Louise Bland, head of the employment law team at Lupton Fawcett.

He said that under the new Employment Act, which came into effect in April, parents of children under the age of six (or 18 if disabled) who have worked for an employer for 26 weeks or more could ask for a change in their terms of employment.

"In the past employers could say 'get lost' but now they are legally required to consider the request and offer objective reasons why they can't agree to the request," he added.

"Employers in sectors where it is increasingly difficult to recruit people might have to consider offering flexible hours, the opportunity to 'buy' extra holiday or even working from home."

For further information on the seminar, which costs £40 and begins at 9am and ends at 12.30pm, followed by lunch, contact Suzanne Bell on (0113) 228 0000 or email suzanne.bell@uk.pkf.com