Law queries

Do employers have to offer flexible working hours to parents?

At present there is no statutory right to flexible working. However, from next April employers will have to consider requests for flexible working from parents of children under the age of six. In July this year the government published a consultation document setting out plans for how the new law will operate. It is unlikely that employers will have to offer flexible working to every employee who requests it but they will have to produce good reasons for turning down requests.

* More information: LRD booklet, Work-life balance - a negotiator's guide. The consultation document is available at www.dti.gov.uk. The deadline for responses is 10 October 2002.