From 6 April 2024, employees will be able to request flexible working arrangements from the first day of their employment as per the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023.
The Act intends to provide employees additional flexibility to decide where and when they can work. Employers would be prudent to be aware of these changes in order to be prepared for their new responsibilities from 6 April 2024.
What are the changes?
The new law will:
- allow employees to make two flexible working requests in any 12-month period instead of one request;
- allow employees to be able to make a flexible working request from the first day of employment as opposed to the previous 26 week eligibility;
- reduce the deadline for an employer’s decision on flexible working requests from three months to two months;
- remove the requirement for employees to explain what effect the flexible working arrangement will have on the employer; and
- require employers to discuss an application for flexible working with the employee before any rejection.
Following the COVID-19 lockdown, employees have been pushing for changes to traditional working arrangements and the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023 is a positive step towards all employees having greater flexibility in the workplace and ultimately a better work-life balance from the start of their employment.
The new law is supported by a new ACAS Statutory Code of Practice.
If you require further information in relation to flexible working arrangements, please contact our employment team, Chloe Baxter and James Watson.
