From Saturday, employees in the UK will have the legal right to request flexible working from their first day in a new job, a significant change from the previous requirement of having worked for an employer for 26 weeks. This new right, hailed by Peter Cheese, the chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), is expected to benefit millions of workers by providing them with more opportunities to balance their work and personal lives.
Cheese emphasized the transformative impact of flexibility in time, scheduling, and place of work, especially for individuals with health conditions, caring responsibilities, or other life choices they want to make. He highlighted the importance of flexible working in supporting better wellbeing, particularly in an aging population and rising levels of economically inactive individuals due to ill health.
The pandemic has accelerated the understanding and demand for flexible working, prompting many organizations to introduce more flexible working policies. The conciliation service Acas has published a new statutory code of practice on requests for flexible working, along with guidance to help employers and employees navigate the changes.
Susan Clews, the chief executive of Acas, noted the global shift towards flexible working following the pandemic, which has allowed people to better balance their working lives and made employers more attractive places to work. The new code aims to foster flexible working further by outlining good practices for flexible working requests.
A study by campaign group Timewise found that half of workers would consider asking for a flexible work pattern using the day-one right to request in a new job. Claire Campbell, the chief executive of Timewise, highlighted the importance of the new legislation in empowering job hunters to inquire about flexible working options.
Research by campaign group Pregnant Then Screwed revealed that mothers are twice as likely as fathers to ask for flexible working after parental leave. Joeli Brearley, the chief executive of the group, emphasized the need for more flexibility in the workplace to support mothers who often shoulder the majority of unpaid labor in caring for children and managing households.
Overall, the new right to request flexible working from day one is seen as a positive step towards promoting work-life balance, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace, with the potential to attract new talent and address gender disparities in the workforce.