After years of talk about improving the legal framework to promote more flexibility in the modern working environment, the UK is now on the cusp of changes to its statutory flexible working regime taking effect. Our blog post from August 2023 provides a background to reform and the changes as initially announced. We now provide an update on what is changing and when, and provide our top tips for employers preparing for and managing flexible working requests beginning in April 2024.
What are the current flexible working rules in the UK?
Under current statutory rules, employees with 26 weeks of continuous service have the right to request flexible working, typically seeking changes to their days, hours, pattern or place of work. The request must be made in writing and explain what impact the change would have on the employer and how this can be dealt with. Only one request can be made within a 12-month period, and employers should deal with the request within three months. There is no obligation on employers to accept a request for flexible working but must consider requests reasonably and only reject a request on the basis of one or more prescribed statutory grounds (such as the burden of additional costs, the detrimental effect on the ability to meet customer demand or performance/quality and an inability to reorganise work among existing staff).
Continue Reading Flexible working reform in the UK – Are you ready for April?