New working regulations are set to come into force on 6 April allowing employees to request flexible working arrangements from day one of their employment.
The Flexible Working (Amendment) Regulations 2023 gained royal ascent in July last year and was laid before Parliament in December.
Current law says workers must pass 26 weeks of employment before requesting to work flexibly with their employer. The Act puts an onus on the employer to engage in consultation with the request before potentially refusing it. However, they must also respond to a request within two months instead of the current three-month timeframe.
Workers will also no longer have to justify their request by explaining the impact it might have on the employer or how it will be dealt with.
Commenting on what constitutes flexible working, Peter Cheese, Chief Executive at the CIPD said: “Flexible working practices can include options on the hours people work, their working patterns and their location, for example, hybrid working. Employers that use a range of approaches can ensure flexible working provision is fair and available to all types of workers regardless of their job or sector.”
