Flexible Working

Flexible working is a manner of working that accommodates an employee's demands, such as having flexible start and finish times or working from home. Flexible working practices include:

• Job sharing
• Working from home
• Part time
• Compressed hours
• Flexitime
• Annualised hours
• Staggered hours

Under current law, workers must have been employed for at least 26 weeks before making a request to work flexibly.

The Flexible working (Amendment) Regulations 2023 will apply to applications made on or after 06 April 2024.

Workers will benefit from the new measures within the Act when the legislation comes into force, including:

• The right to request flexible working from day one of a new job.
• Employers must consult with the employee before rejecting their flexible working request.
• Permission for employees to make two statutory requests in any 12-month period.
• Reduce waiting times for decisions to be made by employers from 3 months to 2 months.
• The removal of existing requirements that the employee must explain what effect, if any, the change applied for would have on the employer and how that effect might be dealt with.

For further information regarding flexible working, or if you require a new Policy following the update, please contact our specialist team of Employment Lawyers on 0345 646 0406 or fill in our online enquiry form and a member of our Team will be very happy to assist.