The government has now published its response to the consultation last year on flexible working laws.
It has been decided that all employees will now have the right to request flexible working from day one. There is emphasis on request rather than have the right to be allowed to work flexibly.
Employees will now be entitled to make 2 requests within a 12-month period and the response time for employers is 2 months from the request date rather than the current 3 months.
If the employer intends to reject the request, there should be a discussion between the employee and employer around whether there are alternative forms of flexible working available although it is still unclear whether this is a statutory requirement or a guideline.
At present, it is just notes from the consultation and in respect of when it will become law, just says “when parliamentary time” allows and again we will keep you updated.
Whilst this remains only a right to request rather than a right to work flexibly, indirect discrimination claims can arise in some circumstances when a right to wok flexibly is rejected so please do always take advice before rejecting any request