Reminder of Flexible Working Changes Coming in April
What employers and employees need to know ...
Posted by Roger Eddowes on 28/03/2024 @ 8:00AM
Flexible working has become increasingly popular, with more and more employees seeking a better work-life balance. In June last year, the government announced its commitment to introduce a 'day-one right' to request flexible working ...
This new legislation, the Flexible Working (Amendment) Regulations 2023, will come into force on the 6th of April 2024!
One of the most significant changes brought by these new regulations is the removal of the requirement for employees to have 26 weeks of continuous employment before being entitled to make a flexible working request.
"Employees will have the right to request flexible working from the very beginning of their employment!"
This is a significant step towards giving employees more control over their work-life balance and allowing them to achieve a better integration of their personal and professional lives.
The removal of the 26-week requirement also means that employers will have to be prepared to handle flexible working requests from new employees. This may require a change in their policies and procedures, as well as providing training to managers and HR teams on how to handle these requests effectively.
Employers should also be aware that they will have a legal obligation to consider all requests in a reasonable manner and can only reject them for valid business reasons!
In addition to the day-one right, the new regulations also plan to increase the number of statutory requests an employee can make in 12 months from one to two. This means that employees will have more opportunities to request flexible working arrangements throughout the year.
However, employers should note that the changes to the permitted number of requests are still subject to further regulations, and it is likely that they will also come into force at the same time in April. There are other significant changes we blogged about back in January when they were first announced.
"It is essential for employers to understand that the new regulations!"
They will not only affect new employees, but also existing employees who have not yet made a flexible working request. As of the 6th of April 2024, all employees will have the right to make a flexible working request at any time, regardless of their length of service. This means that employers should be prepared to receive requests from their current employees and have a clear process in place to handle them.
I feel that this new day-one right to request flexible working is a positive step towards promoting a healthier work-life balance in the UK.
Just ensure you're ready for it.
Until next time ...
ROGER EDDOWES Business Godparent
Would you like to know more?
If anything I've written in this blog post resonates with you and you'd like to discover more about this new day-one right to flexible working, it may be a great idea to call me on 01908 774320 and let's see how I can help you.
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Roger trained at Edward Thomas Peirson & Sons in Market Harborough before working at Hartwell & Co, followed by Chancery, as a partner. He started Essendon Accounts and Tax with Helen Beaumont in 2014 as a general practitioner with a hands-on approach.
Roger loves getting his hands dirty, working with emerging, small-to-medium and family businesses to ensure they receive the best possible accountancy advice. Roger utilises an extensive network of business contacts to leverage the best guidance and practical solutions.
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