People in Staffordshire & Cheshire unaware of changes in the law on flexible working

Employment experts are urging people to make sure they're up to date with upcoming changes

Author: Stan TomkinsonPublished 28th Mar 2024
Last updated 15th Apr 2024

Most workers are not aware of a change in the law making it easier for them to request flexible working, new research has suggested.

A survey of 1,000 employees by the conciliation service Acas found seven out of 10 did not know about the change coming into force on April 6.

A separate survey of 1,000 employers found that two out of five were also unaware of the law change.

Hannah Dowd, from Cheshire law firm Jackson Lees, explains: "You can make one request under the flexible work policy, which will be in place at your workplace, and that's in a 12 month period. You can now make two requests, which of course makes it more flexible for employees."

"Employees no longer have to explain what effect a change might to have on an employer".

Hannah has welcomed the changes, and thinks it'll make a real difference to workers. She added: "It will also give people more of an incentive to remain with employers, especially those who don't have the 26 week wait period. They will be able to do it straight away.

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 upcoming law changes to flexible working.

"These new changes will be coming into force next week and 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 that will come into effect on April 6, 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 and making it clear that employers should proactively offer an appeal where a request has been rejected.

First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Rayo app.