Delay to extension of flexible working

The proposed extension to the right for employees to request flexible working will not now come into force on 6 April 2014 as planned, according to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

The delay is a result of the slow progress of the Children and Families Bill. The government has said that it will look to implement the extension at an appropriate date as soon as possible in 2014.

Under the proposals that were due to come into force, any employee with 26 weeks continuous employment could request flexible working. The proposals also sees the detailed flexible working request procedure being abolished and replaced with a simpler duty on an employer to consider requests “reasonably”. This change is also delayed to a later date.

Employment relations service Acas has published a draft code of practice and guidance on handling requests, even though the new right will not come into force until later in the year. The draft code still requires parliamentary approval, but it is unlikely to change.

www.acas.org.uk/media/pdf/q/4/Acas-response-to-consultation-for-handling-flexible-working-requests.pdf

www.acas.org.uk/media/pdf/p/6/Handling-requests-to-work-flexibly-in-a-reasonable-manner-an-Acas-guide.pdf