Flexible Working Rights | Regulations & Law

As an employer, it is important to understand the rules surrounding flexible working when it comes to your employees. Following the changes to UK legislation, your employees have the right to request a change to their working practices by submitting a flexible working request. As an employer, you are legally obliged to consider each request.

For further information about the comprehensive service our lawyers offer, or simply to learn more about flexible working law, contact us on 0161 930 5117, e-mail employmentteam@gorvins.com or fill in our online enquiry form.

What is Flexible Working and who has the right to it?

Almost all employees with at least 26 weeks’ service have the right to ask for flexible working. You must consider requests in a reasonable manner. You can only refuse a request for one of the eight business reasons allowed by the legislation.

• The burden of additional costs.
• A detrimental effect on the ability to meet customer demand.
• An inability to reorganise work among other employees.
• An inability to recruit additional employees.
• A detrimental effect on quality.
• A detrimental effect on performance.
• Insufficient work at the times when the employee proposes to work.
• Planned structural changes.

Employees who have worked for their employer for 26 weeks or more and have not made an application for flexible working in the previous 12 months have a right to request an arrangement if:

• They are responsible for a child under the age of 17 or a disabled child under 18 who receives Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
• They are applying for the care of a child.
• They are a carer, caring for a partner, spouse or relative who lives at the same address.

At Gorvins, our employment law solicitors are experts in flexible working and the rules surrounding it; we have advised a large number of employers on their policies to ensure they are following the rules when it comes to handling employee requests.

How Can Gorvins Help?

If you have been given a flexible working request from an employee or you just need advice and support in relation to any aspect of flexible working, contact the team at Gorvins Solicitors on 0161 930 5117, e-mail employmentteam@gorvins.com or fill in our online enquiry form and we will be in touch.