Most workers unaware of change in law on flexible working requests, says Acas

A law change means that workers will have the right to apply for flexible working from the first day of employment

Most workers are unaware of a change in the law that makes it easier for them to ask for flexible working, according to new research.

A survey of 1,000 workers by the conciliation service Acas found seven out of 10 do not know about the change coming into force on April 6. Another survey of 1,000 employers found that two out of five also don’t know about the law change.

Currently, staff who have worked for their employer for 26 weeks or more can ask if they can work flexibly. But the change in the law will make this a right from the first day of employment. Acas chief executive Susan Clews said: “Our new findings reveal that most employees and more than two in five employers are unaware of the new upcoming law changes to flexible working.”

“These new changes will be coming into force next week and it is important for bosses and staff to be prepared. Flexible working can bring many benefits in workplaces and the starting position should be to consider what may be possible. Acas has prepared a new statutory code of practice that will come into effect on April 6, which addresses the changes and sets out good practice on flexible working requests.”

The rules tell you who can go with a worker to meetings about changing work hours or days, why bosses can say no, and that they should let workers ask again if they don’t agree.

A spokesperson from the Department for Business and Trade said: “Our new flexible working measures will give people across the UK even more flexibility over where and when they work. We have engaged closely with key stakeholders including Age UK and the TUC and ran an advertising campaign to communicate the new measures to employees and employers”.