Since the implementation of the Employment Act 2002, working parents with children under the age of 6 (or 18 if the child is disabled) and adult carers have been entitled to make a request to change the hours they work, the times when they are required to work or the place where they work.

From 6 April 2009 the right has been extended to parents of children up to the age of 16 by The Flexible Working (Eligibility, Complaints and Remedies) (Amendment) Regulations 2009.

The effect of the legislation is simply to provide employees with the right to request flexible working- it does not provide employees with an automatic entitlement to work flexibly or part time.

Employers will still have the option to refuse any request for the reasons  given in the legislation which include additional costs; detrimental effects on the organisation’s ability to meet customer demand, quality or performance.

Practically, employers require to ensure their flexible working policies are up to date and compliant.