Important changes to the law on the right to request #flexible working have taken effect on 30 June 2014.

All employees now have a statutory right to ask their employer for a change to their contractual terms and conditions of employment to work flexibly provided they have worked for their employer for 26 weeks continuously at the date the application is made.

Before June 2014 the right only applied to the parents of children under 17 or 18 in the case of parents of disabled children or to those caring for an adult.

Now any eligible employee can apply to work flexibly for any reason. Employers now have to consider applications for all staff that have worked at the company for over 26 weeks, regardless of whether they have children.  Previously, the right to request flexible working has only been available to carers and people who look after children.

Acas have provided an extremely helpful guide entitled #“the Right To Request Flexible working” including advice on dealing with requests in a reasonable manner.

Go here: h ttp://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=4861