With effect from 6 April 2024 all employees, regardless of their length of service, will have the right to request flexible working.
Key changes to Flexible Working
- A Day 1 right for all employees (for applications made on or after 6 April 2024)
The Government published wider changes to flexible working last autumn. Government guidance states it is ‘expected’ that these additional changes will come into effect at the same time that flexible working becomes a Day 1 right (i.e. for applications on or after 6 April 2024).
The wider changes are as follows:
- Removing the requirement for employees, in their written request, to set out what effect the proposed flexibility would have on the employer’s business and how any effect could be dealt with.
- Increasing the number of flexible working requests which can be made in any 12- month period from one to two.
- Requests must be consulted on and decisions made within 2 months. As before, it will remain possible, by agreement with the employee, to extend this time period.
Suggested action for Employers
- Have two revised flexible working policies ready to go on 6 April: one which merely removes the requirement for 26 weeks’ service, the other which removes this provision but also incorporates the other changes listed above.
If you’re a business that needs support navigating the new changes to Flexible Working in 2024 don’t hesitate to reach out.
