HOW TO DEAL WITH A STATUTORY REQUEST FOR FLEXIBLE WORKING
On 30th June 2014, regulations on flexible working will be amended to include all Employees who have 26 or more weeks’ service not just those with children under the age of 17 (18 if the child is disabled) and certain carers.
Employers will also have a duty to consider requests in a reasonable manner but can refuse requests on business grounds.
An Employee can make a Statutory Request once in any 12 month period provided that it is in writing and state clearly that is is a Statutory Request. It should also include:
- The date of application
- The date that they would like the changes to commence
- The change in working conditions requested
- How the change would effect the Employer, if it all
- In the Employee’s opinion, how the change can be dealt with
The whole process from the receipt of the request should take no longer than 3 months unless the Employer has agreement from the Employee to extend it.
