When did flexible working legislation change?
We’ve had some form of right to request flexible working for almost 20 years. It was first introduced for some parents in 2003 and was gradually tweaked until 2014 when all employees were given the right to request flexible working arrangements.
Do employers have to be flexible with childcare?
If you need to change the hours you work because of childcare, you can make a request for flexible work. Your employer has a duty to consider your request in a reasonable manner and your employer must not discriminate against you.
What is section 80F of the Employment Rights Act 1996?
Employees with at least 26 weeks’ continuous service have the right to make a request for a permanent contractual variation to enable them to work ‘flexibly’ (section 80F, Employment Rights Act 1996). The right is available to all eligible employees, not just parents or carers (as was previously the case).
Which law covers flexible working?
To help employees improve their work-life balance, and following the Children and Families Act 2014, the Flexible Working Regulations 2014 mean that, from 30 June 2014, there will be no requirement to be a parent or carer.
What act does flexible working come under?
“the 1996 Act” means the Employment Rights Act 1996; “flexible working application” means an application made under section 80F of the 1996 Act (statutory right to request contract variation).
What are the types of flexible working?
Types of flexible working
- Job sharing. Two people do one job and split the hours.
- Working from home. It might be possible to do some or all of the work from home or anywhere else other than the normal place of work.
- Part time.
- Compressed hours.
- Flexitime.
- Annualised hours.
- Staggered hours.
- Phased retirement.
Are parents entitled to flexible working hours?
The right to request flexible working is now available to any employee who has been employed by their employer for at least 26 weeks, regardless of whether they are parents or not (this was not the case when the right was first introduced).