Flexible Working

Flexible working includes a wide variety of approaches to structuring your working, through measures such as adapting your working hours, job sharing and home working. These measures are vital for many mothers and carers who have to juggle the conflicting commitments of work and care.

Employees who meet certain criteria have a right to request flexible working arrangements from their employers. Although meeting these criteria does not automatically give you the right to work flexibly, your employer does have to consider your request for flexible working properly and give adequate reasons in the event of refusal.  Also, in some circumstances, an unjustified refusal to allow your request may amount to indirect sex discrimination.

Sometimes problems can arise for those already working flexibly, perhaps because they receive less advantageous benefits than their colleagues, or if an employer decides the arrangement is no longer working.

Flexible working can raise a number of complicated legal issues. Each case needs to be assessed on a case by case basis and it is always sensible to seek legal advice if a flexible working request is refused, or if you are a flexible worker who is being treated badly by their employer.

If you have a problem with you employer regarding flexible working please contact us on 0800 916 9060 or e mail enquiries@rjw.co.uk.