Flexible working

leereni

I noticed today the government announced everyone can now apply for flexible working.

Even though I have an 18 month old and another on the way, where do employees stand regarding having an application refused. I have previously posted on this subject and more recently heard that my employer is refusing more and more applications. I knew of one colleague who is single and has 3 children and only just got her application accepted.

If it is refused can this be taken to an employment tribunal?

RichardD1970

Nothing has changed for people with kids, only now people without kids can apply as well.

All this means is that you have the right to apply, not that they have to let you. It will still depend on individual business needs.

http://www.theguardian.com/money/work-blog/2014/jun/30/flexible-working-on-way-know-rights

tomtontom

The employer can refuse if they have legitimate business reasons to do so. You have the right to go to tribunal if you wish, but if they can demonstrate business reasons you will lose. I would suggest that, as part of your application, you explain how the employer can accommodate your request without it impacting on the business - in effect putting forward your own business case.

bevanuk

I don't think so. Everyone has the right to request flexible working and for it to be considered. Nobody has the right for it to be accepted.

The only time there would be a case for anything further (i think) would be for 2 people in the same job with exactly the same mitigated circumstances.

Others may know more.

leereni

But an employer can always come up with a reason, it just gives them work if they wish to refuse an application.

leereni

Anyone know how many employment tribunals have been held regarding employers refusing flexible working? I'd suggest it's low.

elsien

What you also need to consider is that just because someone else has had a request agreed doesn't mean that you will. An employer can make adjustments up to a point, but if 4 other people have already requested the hours you want then there is less chance of it being do-able than if you were the first.
If an employer needs cover all day, and most of the workforce is requesting early starts for example, they're going to hit a point where no-one wants the lates so they have to say no to any new request.

[simon]

I cant see the 'retail' sector benefitting from this.


The answer will always be "you must meet the needs of the business" not the other way around, us meeting the needs of your life.

bugslet

[simon] wrote: »

I cant see the 'retail' sector benefitting from this.


The answer will always be "you must meet the needs of the business" not the other way around, us meeting the needs of your life.

It's a business, it's set up to meet its customers needs. If you don't meet their needs, then they vote with their feet and take their business elsewhere.

I run a haulage business and flexible working can't be accomodated simply because our work is not routine, and when a customer says they want a load delivered 400 miles away the next day, then that's what we do. If it's a load to Rome or Uppsala, then the driver will be away for 4 - 5 days.

Overall we try to be as flexible as we can and given that our staff stay for so long, we must get things right most of the time.

tomtontom

OP, are you still a police officer? If so, then I'm sure you can understand why it is difficult to accommodate these requests. Are there any other roles you could transfer to that might be more suited to flexible working?

Pricivius

leereni wrote: »

Anyone know how many employment tribunals have been held regarding employers refusing flexible working? I'd suggest it's low.

I don't know the more up to date figures but there were apparently 277 claims brought in 2010-11 because of flexible working requests. To try and put that in perspective, there were 190,000 claims brought in 2012. So yes, those figures suggest it is low.