The new bill will give workers the right to request flexible hours from the first day that they start in new employment, rather than the 26 weeks previously imposed. It also places a duty on the employer to justify, if rejected, why requested flexible hours would not be possible.
Who does the bill aim to help?
The bill was introduced to parliament by MP Yasmin Qureshi who said the new law would support “new parents, unpaid carers and disabled people”.
The bill was also welcomed by campaigners wishing to close the gender pay gap, and gender bias in career progression. Deloitte’s 2022 Women at Work report found that 94% of women believe that asking for flexible working will impact their career.
Why was the new bill required?
The pandemic made home working a necessity, but since the end of lock-down, getting workers back to the office has caused controversy. Sports Direct owner Frasers Groups put an end to its home working, with an internal memo claiming that some were “not treating Friday as a working day.”
The new law will force the employer to consider the possibility of flexible working on a case-by-case basis, rather than a blanketed policy. Simultaneously, the employee will become accountable for their performance under their agreed contract of flexible working.
Retaining Professionalism – Flexible Working & Your Team
If you have members of your team working from home, remember that CSnotepad can act as a centralised reception, directing incoming calls to whichever member of your team is best to deal with them, no matter where they are based. Our customer service advisors can direct calls to home landlines or personal mobiles, all while maintaining privacy and never disclosing a number to a caller. We can even provide your home workers with a virtual landline number to mask their mobile number for an added level of professionalism and privacy.
For more information on our services, head over to our website here.
For more information on the new Flexible Working Bill read this great article.
