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Flexible working laws change on 6 April 2009 – find out how they could benefit you and your family

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April 2009
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Flexible working laws have changed find out how they could benefit you and your family

From Monday 6 April 2009, all parents of children aged 16 and under will have the right to ask their employer for flexible working arrangements.

The new rule is an extension of the right to request flexible working that employees with children under the age of six and those caring for disabled people, already have. It will mean that an additional 4.5 million employees will be eligible to request flexible working – that’s around 10 million overall.

So what is flexible working?

Flexible working is any working pattern that is adapted for the benefit of the individual and that also suits their employer.  The types of flexible working include part-time, flexi-time, compressed hours, staggered hours, job sharing and working from home. Many employers already offer flexible working, but this new law means more parents should have the confidence to approach their boss if they haven’t before, because now they have the statutory right to ask.

It’s important to remember though, that the new rules give people the right to ask for flexible working, not the right to have it. Under the law your employer is obliged seriously consider any application you make, and can only reject it if there are good business reasons for doing so.

Making a flexible working request is easy. Visit www.direct.gov.uk and click on the ‘employment’ section for more information and template application forms.