Almost half of employers are unaware of the change in law making it easier for employees to request flexible working, research has shown.
The Employment Relations (Flexible Working Act) removes the requirement for an employee to have 26 weeks’ continuous service before they can make a flexible working request.
The new legislation, which came into force earlier this month, means the right to do so becomes a “day-one” right.
A YouGov poll found that 43 per cent of employers were unaware of the law change.
An investigation by Acas, the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, has found that seven out of 10 employees are not aware that the law is changing to make it easier to request flexible working at work.
Acas has produced a revised Code of Practice to support employers and employees through the change and other reforms, which have been introduced simultaneously.
Acas Chief Executive Susan Clews said: “Our new findings reveal that most employees and more than two in five employers are unaware of the new changes to flexible working.
“It is important for bosses and staff to be prepared. Flexible working can bring many benefits in workplaces and the starting position should be to consider what may be possible.
“Acas has prepared a new statutory Code of Practice which addresses the changes and sets out good practice on flexible working requests.”
The Code of Practice includes information on:
- who should be allowed to accompany an employee at meetings to discuss a flexible working request
- the need for transparency about reasons for rejecting a request
- making it clear that employers should proactively offer an appeal where a request has been rejected.
