Flexibility fine is too low - TUC

The TUC has criticised the £2,000 limit on fines on employers who refuse to consider fairly an employee's request to work flexibly. The TUC had been demanding that the limit be set as 52 weeks' pay.

From this April employers will have to consider seriously requests to work flexibly from parents of children under age six.

But if the employer is found by an employment tribunal not to have considered the claim seriously, the maximum compensation the employee can expect is eight weeks' pay, up to a limit of £250 per week.