The Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023 received royal assent in July. As a result, workers will benefit from the following new protections once the Act is in force (expected in 2024):
- There will be new requirements for employers to consult with the employee before rejecting their flexible working request.
- Employees will be able to make two statutory requests in any 12-month period (rather than the current one request).
- Employers will be required to make a decision within two months rather than the current three.
- Employees will no longer have to explain what effect, if any, the change applied would have on the employer and how that effect might be dealt with.
- Workers will be given the right to request flexible working from day one of a new job.
In response to this legislation, Acas will be updating its statutory Code of Practice and ASCL has responded to the consultation on this, which has now closed. You can see our response
here.