Flexible Working

Flexible working can deliver a win-win situation where employees are happier and more engaged because they are better able to manage the various demands on their time.

Flexible working can help improve staff engagement, morale, wellbeing and productivity, whilst allowing employees the opportunity to manage work alongside family and other commitments.

Flexible working arrangements

Some employees have the statutory right to make a flexible working request.

They must:

  • be an employee;
  • have worked for the employer continuously for at least 26 weeks when they make the request; and
  • not have made another statutory request during the past 12 months – employees can make one request every 12 months and the year runs from the date the first application was made.

Those who have worked for an organisation for fewer than 26 weeks, agency workers and office holders do not have a statutory right to request flexible working, however, some employers may still wish to consider the requests because of the business benefits it could bring.

A request for flexible working can cover hours of work, times of work and place of work and may include requests for different patterns of work.

Work patterns

These days there are many different working patterns.  They include:

  • part time work;
  • flexi time;
  • job sharing;
  • shift work; and
  • teleworking.

Family friendly policies

Family friendly policies are designed to create more choice for parents and allow them to strike a balance between working and spending time with their children.  

 More information for employees is available at www.nidirect.gov.uk and information for employers is available at www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk

Last updated: 22 November 2021