Working Hours | Flexible Working | Time Off | Future Legislation

Right to Ask for Flexible Working Arrangements (UK)

To be eligible the employee must:

• Have 26 weeks service with their employer
• Be the parent, adopter, guardian or foster parent of a child under the age of 6, or of a disabled child under the age of 18, or be married to or be the partner of such a person
• Have responsibility for the upbringing of the child
• Be the carer of an adult living at the same address

The scope of flexibility includes:

• Working hours
• Timing of work
• Location
• Any other aspects as may be specified

Typically, flexible arrangements may cover:

• Compressed hours
• Shift work
• Flexitime
• Staggered hours
• Home working
• Annual hours
• Job sharing
• Self-rostering
• Teleworking
• Term-time working

The procedure for an employee to make a request is:

• A formal written request setting out the proposed work pattern and how it could be made to work
• The employer making a practical business assessment on how the flexible working could be arranged
• A meeting between employer and employee within 4 weeks of the request being made. The employee has the right to be accompanied
• The employer writing to the employee within 2 weeks of the meeting accepting the request, or confirming where a compromise has been agreed, or rejecting the request with business reasons

The employee can appeal a negative response and if all internal discussions have failed to resolve the issue, the employee has the right to go to an employment tribunal. Binding mediation and arbitration, including through ACAS, should be available.

Working Hours | Flexible Working | Time Off | Future Legislation