Employment

Flexible Working

Employment law advice for employees

Knowing your flexible working rights empowers you to shape a better work-life balance. If your request is refused or mishandled, expert legal advice ensures fairness and protects your interests.

Life isn’t one-size-fits-all. Whether you’re balancing family, health, or personal commitments, flexibility at work can make a big difference. You deserve clarity and confidence when requesting arrangements that support your wellbeing.

What does flexible working include?

Flexible working covers arrangements such as:

  • Remote or hybrid working
  • Flexitime
  • Part-time hours
  • Job sharing.

How the process works

You can make a formal request for flexible working, and your employer must handle it reasonably and follow the Acas Code of Practice. They can only refuse on one of eight statutory grounds, such as:

  • Additional costs
  • Impact on meeting customer demand
  • Inability to reorganise work among staff
  • Inability to recruit additional staff
  • Detrimental impact on quality or performance
  • Insufficient work during proposed hours
  • Planned structural changes.

Before rejecting a request, your employer must consult with you.

Why legal support matters

If your request is refused incorrectly or not handled properly, you may have grounds for a claim. Expert advice helps you understand your rights, challenge decisions, and achieve the best outcome. There are strict time limits for bringing a claim and so it’s important that you seek advice promptly.

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