NEW FLEXIBLE WORKING REGULATIONS

Employers need to be aware and start putting procedures into place for the new Flexible Work legislation, which becomes law in April 2003. Employers will have to follow a new statutory procedure for dealing with requests for flexible working from parents of children under the age of 6 or disabled children under 18. The new procedure is,

• An employee can make one request a year. If accepted by the employer, it will mean a
  permanent change to the contract of employment.
• Employers must arrange a meeting to discuss the request with the within 28 days. At the meeting, the employee may be accompanies by a companion.
• Employer must write to the employee within 14 days of the meeting to either agree to the new work pattern together with a start date, or decline the request. If declined, then the employer must provide
  clear business grounds for doing so. The employee has 14 days to appeal their employer�s decision. (internal appeal)

Dissatisfied employees can take their case to an Employment Tribunal, where the employer will have to demonstrate they have followed the procedure correctly.