Flexible Working

Certain employees have the statutory right to request flexible working i.e. the right to apply to their employer for a change in their working hours or, where appropriate, the opportunity to work from home. Employees who have been continuously employed for a period of 26 weeks may apply. It is important to note that this right is a right to request and not to demand.

This right is available to an employee, whether male or female, who:

• is the parent, guardian, adoptive parent or foster parent of a child who is 16 years or younger
  
  OR
   
• if they have been awarded disability living allowance for the child
  • is the parent, guardian, adoptive parent or foster parent of a disabled child under the age of 18, or
  • cares for or expects to be caring for a dependent adult who is aged 18 or over, who is:
    
    • married to or is the partner or civil partner of the employee, or
    • a near relative of the employee, or
    • living at the same address as the employee

The near relative definition includes parents, parents-in-law, adult children, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, adopted adult children, siblings, include those who are in-laws, uncles, aunts, grandparents and step-relatives.