Government confirms plans to improve flexible working and carers' rights
The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has confirmed its intentions to give ALL UK workers the right to request flexible working from day one of their employment, as well as other plans aiming to improve workers' work/life balance.
Announced on 23rd September 2021, the government proposal to extend current flexible work rights include:
Introducing the day-one right to one week’s unpaid leave per year for working carers
Potentially cutting the three-month period employers currently have to consider flexible work requests
Considering whether limiting an employee’s application for flexible working to one per year continues to represent the best balance between individual and business needs.
Allowing all job applicants to know they can ask for flexible work before they apply, therefore making sure employers know whether they can offer flexible work before advertising
Encouraging employers to consider alternatives, such as flexibility on certain days, if they cannot accommodate a request
The consultation looks at a range of flexible working methods such as job-sharing, flexitime, compressed, annualised and staggered hours, as well as phased retirement – not just working from home. It would allow employees to balance their work and home life, including helping people who are managing childcare commitments or other caring responsibilities as well as ensuring that people who are under-represented in Britain’s workforce, such as new parents or disabled people, have access to more opportunities.
Realising there are some circumstances where businesses will not be able to offer flexible working, it also stated that requests can still be rejected on the basis of sound business reasons and, changes will respect freedom of contract.
To find out more about this consultation, please visit gov.uk or get in touch with Polly who will be delighted assist.