Flexible Working

Flexible working is now a core part of modern employment, covering arrangements like remote work, hybrid models, flexitime, part-time hours, and job sharing. All employees have the right to request flexible working for any reasons, with no qualifying period of employment needed.

Employers must handle requests reasonably and follow the Acas Code of Practice, which tribunals consider when assessing complaints. Requests can only be refused on one of eight statutory grounds, and employers must consult with the employee before rejecting a request. These grounds include:

• 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.

Why this matters for your business

Flexible working requests are more common than ever. Managing them well helps you stay legally compliant, maintain employee trust, and avoid costly disputes. Poor handling can lead to tribunal claims and reputational risk.

How can we support you?

We help employers manage flexible working requests confidently and compliantly. Our services include:

• Training key staff on legal requirements and consultation steps
• Reviewing and updating flexible working policies and procedures
• Ensuring policies meet statutory reasonableness standards and include all required steps for rejecting requests.

Our goal is to help you balance operational needs with employee expectations, reducing risk and supporting a positive workplace culture.