A recent survey revealed that nearly one in five working mothers have been forced to leave their jobs because their flexible working request has been rejected. The Workingmums Annual Survey 2016 found that more than 25% of women in work had a flexible working request rejected, and 12% felt that their employer did not even consider their request. But how should these flexible working requests be handled, and how do you make sure you don’t fall foul of the law?
What are employees entitled to?
Employees don’t have the right to work flexibly, but they do have the right to make a request to do so provided that they:
- are an employee (not a worker);
- have at least 26 weeks’ service; and
- have not made a flexible working request in the previous 12 months.
The request should be written and dated, and should state that it is a request for flexible working made under the statutory procedure. The employee will need to explain what changes they are seeking and from when (changes can relate to hours, times or place of work), what effects the changes might have and how the effects could be dealt with.
To read the full article, please click here.
