New right to request flexible working

The right to request flexible working arrangements changes from next week.

On 30 June 2014, new Flexible Working Regulations and part 9 of the Children and Families Act 2014 come into force. This will mean that the right to request flexible working will be extended to cover all employees after 26 weeks’ service, rather than only those with children under the age of 17 (or 18 if the child is disabled) and certain carers.

Employers can refuse requests where they can demonstrate good business grounds to do so. The various categories of business reasons for refusing a request remain unchanged.

The statutory procedure for dealing with requests is also being replaced by a duty to deal with requests reasonably, and the employment relations service Acas has produced a revised statutory code of practice which relates to that duty.

A good practice guide designed to help employers and employees with handling the statutory right to request flexible working has been published by Acas as a companion to the statutory code of practice.

Reps should acquaint themselves with the new regulations and code of practice as soon as possible by following the link below.

Workplace Report, the sister magazine to Fact Service, will be covering flexible working arrangements in it its July issue. Any reps who have agreements, please send them to: [email protected]

www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1616