Plans unveiled to make the right to request flexing working a day one right

As part of the UK Government's open consultation published today (titled "making flexible working the default"), proposed reforms to the Flexing Working Regulations 2014 have been outlined.

The reforms, earmarked as modernising the workplace, make proposals for the right to request flexible working to be a day one right (with no consideration of length of service at all).  It is estimated that an additional 2.2 million more people would benefit from the right to request flexible working under such plans.  

Among other factors, the open consultation points to the particular need to for a flexible labour market that is primed for the opportunities and challenges of the post-Covid-19 economy.  Accordingly, and as employers look to progress onwards from the immediate response to the pandemic, the consultation highlights the need to support employers so that informed decisions can be made in respect of approaches to flexible working going forward.   

Anyone interested in responding to the open consultation, has until midnight on 1 December 2021 to do so.  

My colleague Rory Byrom has looked at the issue in more detail here.