The law gives the ‘right to request’ flexible working to parents of children up to and including the age of 16, parents of disabled children up to 18, and carers of adult relatives. Employers must consider requests seriously and give objective business reasons if they have to turn them down.
The best place to learn more on the right to request flexible working is from ACAS – a government-funded organisation working to prevent and resolve employment disputes. Download the ACAS leaflet: The right to apply for flexible working – a short guide for employers, working parents and carers.
The ACAS leaflet covers:
- who can apply
- how to apply
- grounds for refusal
- what to do if refused
You can download a flowchart summary of the right-to-request procedure (PDF, 63K), from the Business Link website.
If you would just like a short overview, just start here: Short introduction to the rights of parents to request flexible work by Avinder Laroya of Serenity Law
In 2014 changes are taking place in the laws around flexible working. Read more on expected changes to the right to request flexible work, where it will be extended to include all employees. Likely to take effect in April 2014.
Your application for a flexible working arrangement
Your application should describe the desired working pattern and how you think your employer can accommodate it.
Make sure you include all information, so your flexible working application is valid.
You can download the form FW(A), from the Directgov website. (RTF, 884K).
More information
Should you have a more specific, individual question you can call the ACAS helpline, for free.
Parental Choice – Offer a ‘one https://artsandhealth.ie/accutane/ stop shop’ to help you make the right decision on your childcare needs and guide you through your legal rights before and after pregnancy, they offer services to: write your flexible work proposal, find your childcare and write your nanny contract
NCT and Working Families offer ‘Returning to work – a guide for parents‘. It gives practical information, as well as legal information and covers:
- How does family and work fit in my life
- I’m pregnant – what happens next?
- How does this fit with my career?
- How to tell my employer
- How should I tell the other people at work?
- Avoiding the bumps
- Keeping in touch and getting ready to return to work
- Back at work
- The homefront
- If things go wrong (in requesting flexible work)
Business Link – government’s online resource for businesses – sets out the statutory rights to flexible work from an employers perspective. However, if you are looking for some more detail, and best practice examples, it is worthwhile checking their website. It includes:
- The right to request flexible working – the eligibility criteria
- Types of flexible working
- How to do an application for a flexible working arrangement
- How an employer should respond to an employee’s flexible working request, including a clear flow chart of the process
- How the employer should reach a decision on a flexible working request – including grounds for refusal
- How an employee can appeal a refusal
- Extensions to time limits and withdrawals
- How to deal with unresolved flexible working requests
- Employment protection rights in relation to employment tribunal claims
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