Request Flexible Working 

A Day One Right for all Employees

The government has now published its response following the consultation on flexible working.  You can read its response in full here (Making flexible working the default: government response to consultation (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Annalie King, Head of Employment at Kerseys Solicitors summarises A Day One Right for all Employees below: –

• The right to request flexible working (not to receive it) will become a Day One right rather than only available to employees that have 26 weeks of continuous service.
• Employees will now have the opportunity to make requests twice in a 12-month period as opposed to only once.  The response time from employers will be reduced from 3 months to 2 months.
• In their response, the employer will have a new duty to discuss alternatives to flexible working with their employees. If the employer wishes to reject the employee’s application for flexible working, for example, if it is not possible to change their hours on all of the days requested, perhaps agreeing to change hours on some of the days that the employee has requested.

The procedure for requesting flexible working will be simplified as it will remove the requirement for employees to set out how the effects of their flexible working request might impact upon the employer.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has not given a timescale on proposed new legislation.

If you are an employer and need support with your firm’s staff handbook or HR services, please contact Annalie King head of our employment team in Ipswich 01473 213311 or Colchester 01206 584584 or email [email protected], alternatively Kerseys are only a click away visit our website and click “Call Me Back” and a member of our employment team will be happy to contact you at a time that is convenient to you.