Flexible Working Requests

All employees who have a minimum of 26 weeks' continuous service with their employer, at the date of application, have the statutory right to request flexible working and to have their flexible working application dealt with in a reasonable manner.  A further condition for eligibility is that the employee must not have made another application to work flexibly within the previous twelve months.

A request for flexible working could include:

• A request for a change to the number of hours that they work;
• A request for a change to the pattern of hours or days worked;
• A request to job share; or
• A request to perform some or all of the work from their home. 

Flexibility in the workplace allows employers and employees to make arrangements about working conditions that suit them.  This helps employees maintain a work/life balance and can help employers improve the productivity and efficiency of their business.

As employers, you should be committed to being flexible on working patterns for your employees, however, this needs to be weighed up against the requirements of your business, which are paramount and as such it may not be appropriate or possible for flexible working arrangements to apply to all jobs across all areas of the business.  However, in considering such requests, a fair process must be followed in line with your legislative obligations to your employees.

If you would like to understand more about the right to apply for flexible working or if you have concerns about a request you have received, please contact a member of the HRx  team.