Greens plan to give employees right to flexible hours

Workers who had been with the same employer for more than 12 months would be entitled to request a change to their work hours.

Employers could refuse a request only on reasonable business grounds, and employees who were knocked back would have the right to take the matter to Fair Work Australia.

"The current legislation gives you the right to ask for a change in your working arrangements, but it's unenforceable," Greens MP Adam Bandt told ABC Radio on Friday.

"The employer can knock it back."

Bandt denied his proposal would make it more expensive for companies to do business.

"This would be a productivity bonus for the economy and business will benefit."

Many employers had found they could boost staff productivity and satisfaction when the hours people wanted to work were matched closely with those they actually worked, Bandt said.