HR Articles

The right to request flexible working is currently available to employees with at least 26 weeks’ service and is set to be extended further under new Government reforms.

The Government has announced that employees will receive a day one right to request flexible working as part of plans to make flexible working the default position.

Most workers today have come from a background where, rightfully so, work was synonymous with place. We have all been used to the idea of going to and coming from a workplace.

As we come to the end of ‘National Work Life Balance Week’, it is an ideal moment for employers to take stock and reflect on whether they are striking the right balance in their workplaces. 

Calculating holiday leave and pay for atypical workers has always been a complex topic. 

Previously many organisations ‘rolled up’ holiday pay for such workers meaning that they received enhanced salary instead of leave, but this was ruled unlawful following a decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union in 2006. 

The pandemic has brought the topic of health and wellbeing to the forefront, not least in the employment sphere. With an overnight move for many from office to homeworking, there was an increased focus on mental resilience, loneliness, and the blurred lines between work and rest, and between work and home life. Across the country, many employees suddenly had the opportunity to experience both the perks of working away from the office, as well as the detriments.  

It’s inevitable that many employers will now find themselves facing an increasing number of flexible working requests from employees who have been able to work remotely from home in recent months and wish to continue to do so in some form.   

Workers at IKEA’s distribution centre in Peterborough may well be horrified to learn this week that their employer has just removed hidden surveillance cameras installed in the male and female toilets some six years ago. 

The Government has recently announced a consultation on flexible working, the Making flexible working the default consultation takes place from the Governments Good Work Plan which was published in July 2019.

The pandemic has seen employees re-evaluate their working habits and some may try to change their working terms and conditions e.g., working one day less a week, changing their hours and/or place of work. Employees will need to seek approval from their employers.