Flexible Working to be the Default
Employees may soon have the right to request flexible working from the moment they start their job.
The UK Government has published a Consultation “Making Flexible Working the Default” which intends to expand on the current flexible working rules in Great Britain (not currently extending to Northern Ireland).
The consultation closes on 1 December 2021 and the proposals aim to increase accessibility to work for a wide range of people.
Giving people the flexibility when and where to work during the pandemic was instrumental in ensuring businesses could continue to operate.
The proposals include making it a statutory right to request flexible working to all employees from the first day of employment, reducing the time that an employer must respond to a request and how many times an employee can make a flexible working request.
This announcement comes at a time when the working environment has been transformed and continues to undergo a number of changes. This has shifted the views on flexible working not just for employees but also employers and has proved to be successful.
Whilst flexibility has not been possible for all businesses however, it has helped employees achieve work-life balance, including those with carer responsibilities and any new rules implemented to strengthen the right to request flexible working will surely cause a change in mindset by employers.
