Flexible working to be extended to all employees

28 November 2012 | David Widdowson

The Government has announced its plans to extend the right to request flexible working to all employees from 2014.

Legal issues

This table sets out the current legal position and the changes to come into force in 2014.

Flexible working – the legal framework

2012 2014
Who can ask? Carers with 26 weeks service Anyone with 26 weeks service
How often? Once every 12 months Once every 12 months
What’s the process? Stringent:
28 day time frame from request to meeting
14 days from meeting to decision
‘Reasonable time frame’
Details to be provided in Code of practice with non statutory guidance notes
Reasons for rejection? Costs
Effect on customer demand
Cannot re-organise work
Effect on recruitment
Effect on quality
Effect on performance
No work during proposed period
Planned structural changes
‘Reasonable manner’ plus 8 business grounds
Unanswered issues? Trial period impractical as permanent change to contract
Seen as a charter for working mothers with impact on career progression
Trial period issue unresolved
How to prioritise competing requests?

Commentary

Although criticised by employers and employees alike for being unduly prescriptive, the existing procedure and time limits for responding to requests at least had the merit of being clear.

The introduction of a requirement to deal with requests in a “reasonable manner” will introduce some uncertainty which may result in more and not less litigation. The Government have said they will introduce guidance on this which may go some way towards providing a format understood by both employees and employers.

It remains unclear how employers will tackle trial periods and how they will manage competing requests.

Employers need to ensure they have policies and strategies in place to manage the new rules including how best to manage competing requests for flexible working from employees within the same team.

Any decision needs to be considered against sex and disability discrimination rights as well as the European parental leave directive that confers the right to request flexible working to parents returning from parental leave.

Resources

Government Response on flexible working

For further information or to discuss the issues raised, please contact Emma Clark, Kate Thompson, Guy Abbiss or David Widdowson on +44 (0)20 3051 5711.

Disclaimer

Content is for general information purposes only. The information provided is not intended to be comprehensive and it does not constitute or contain legal or other advice. If you require assistance in relation to any issue please seek specific advice relevant to your particular circumstances. In particular, no responsibility shall be accepted by the authors or by Abbiss Cadres LLP for any losses occasioned by reliance on any content appearing on or accessible from this article. For further legal information click here.

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Disclaimer

Content is for general information purposes only. The information provided is not intended to be comprehensive and it does not constitute or contain legal or other advice. If you require assistance in relation to any issue please seek specific advice relevant to your particular circumstances. In particular, no responsibility shall be accepted by the authors or by Abbiss Cadres LLP for any losses occasioned by reliance on any content appearing on or accessible from this article. For further legal information click here.

The author

David Widdowson
David Widdowson
Senior Consultant
  • Employment Law
  • Mediation
  • Business Coaching
F: +44 (0) 203 051 5712

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