Flexible changes look after parents

Business news by Martyn Torrparents in Oldham can benefit from new rules surrounding flexible working.

More than six million people benefit from a statutory right to request a change in their terms of employment to accommodate flexible working.

An extension to the legislation, which came into force on April 1, sees a further four and a half million become potentially eligible.

Currently, employers are legally required to consider requests for flexible working from employees who have continually worked for the company (not through an agency) for at least 26 weeks and who are responsible for the upbringing of a child under the age of six, or under 18 if that child is disabled. This right to request flexible working also includes employees who have caring responsibilities for certain adults.

Now, the right to request flexible working has been extended to parents who wish to change their working hours to care for a child up to and including the age of 16.

Flexible working patterns can be offered in several ways and can include the reduction or variation of working hours, a reduction in the number of days worked each week or the option of working from home.

Once an employer receives a written request they have 28 days to respond, in which time they must meet with the employee to discuss their proposal and then give them an answer within a further two weeks. If the application is refused the employee has the right to request an appeal hearing. Employers can refuse an employee’s application on recognised business grounds, which include, the burden of additional costs on the business, an inability to re-organise work among existing staff or an inability to recruit additional staff to accommodate the desired change.

Glenn Hayes, from the Manchester office of Irwin Mitchell, one of the country’s largest law firms, said: “We advise that employers seriously consider each application on its individual merits and only reject if there are clearly justifiable business reasons.”