Commencement of Flexible Working
Following up on our earlier blog post, we want to remind you about the recent updates regarding flexible working arrangements. These changes officially took effect on Saturday, April 6, 2024, coinciding with the start of the new Tax Year!
It’s essential to ensure you refer to updated HR policies reflective of these changes which accommodate the Act.
Key changes include:-
- Employees can now make two flexible working requests within any 12-month period, as opposed to just one.
- Employers must handle requests within two months of receipt, without extending the timeline to three months.
- Employers cannot outright refuse a request without consulting with the employee first.
- Employees are no longer required to explain the potential impact of their request or how to mitigate any effects.
These adjustments stem from the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023 (link below), with the relevant regulations accessible here The Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023 (Commencement) Regulations 2024 (legislation.gov.uk)
Additionally, it’s worth noting that the Flexible Working (Amendment) Regulations 2023 have made the right to request flexible working available from day one of employment, rather than waiting until 26 weeks in.
Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023 – Parliamentary Bills – UK Parliament
See also attached Acas’ code of practice on requests for flexible working – the code is expected to come into effect in April 2024.
The information in this blog post applies to statutory flexible working requests.
Local Authorities, will need to urgently, if not already, update their Flexible Working Policy to reflect these legislative changes and collectively agree these updates with the Trade Unions. Watch this space! For Client in Leeds, these will be released on Leeds for Learning. In the absence of any updated policy from your local authority please refer to these Legislative changes in the first instance when responding to requests or contact a member of the Bywater Kent HR Team who will be happy to advise you 🙂
