Potential implementation: 2027

What is the position now?

If an employer turns down a flexible working request, they must give one of the eight legally recognised reasons for doing so.

What is changing?

Employers will still need to rely on those legal reasons but that will no longer be enough on its own. They will also have to show that their decision to refuse the request was fair and reasonable in the circumstances.

What does this mean for employers?

Requests for flexible working will need more careful consideration. If an employer cannot show that a refusal was reasonable, an employment tribunal may award the worker compensation of up to eight weeks’ pay (subject to a statutory limit).

As at Feb 26