Responding to a request for flexible working | Right to request flexible working | Family-friendly rights and policies | FAQs | HR Tools

How should an employer respond to a request for flexible working?

Updated to reflect changes to the process for dealing with statutory flexible working requests, in place from 6 April 2024.

Where an employee about to go on maternity leave requests to return on reduced hours, must the employer consider their request at that point?

Updated to reflect changes to the right to request flexible working in place from 6 April 2024, including that the employer must respond within two months.

Where a statutory application for flexible working is acceptable as it stands, is the employer obliged to arrange a meeting to discuss the request?

Updated to reflect changes to the right to request flexible working in place from 6 April 2024, including that the employer must respond within two months.

Can an employer use a trial period to test whether a proposed flexible working arrangement would work?

Updated to reflect that the time limit for responding to flexible working requests made on or after 6 April 2024 is reduced to two months.

What should an employer do if an older employee requests to change their working pattern in preparation for retirement?

Updated to reflect changes to the right to request flexible working in place from 6 April 2024, including a requirement to consult with the employee.

What is the time limit within which an employer must respond to a request for flexible working?

Updated to reflect that the time limit for requests made on or after 6 April 2024 is reduced to two months.

Must an employee provide a reason when making a statutory request for flexible working?

What should an employer do if it receives more than one flexible working request and cannot accommodate them all?

If an employer agrees to a flexible working request, does it have to issue a new contract of employment to the employee?

What are the risks for an employer of refusing a request for flexible working from a male employee, when female employees' requests have previously been accepted?

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