Extension to flexible working rights

The right to request flexible working has been extended to all employees with at least 26 weeks' service from 30th June 2014.

Before this change in the law, only employees with children aged 16 or under (17 or under if the child is disabled) or those acting as carers had the right to request flexible working.

Employers are required to consider requests and deal with applications in a 'reasonable manner' as the previous statutory procedure for dealing with flexible working requests has been abolished.

Employers do not have to accept an employee's request as there are a number of legitimate reasons for turning down a flexible working request, including the burden of additional costs to the business and an inability to recruit additional staff.

For information on how to make and deal with requests see the ACAS website guidance

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