Acas is updating its statutory Code of Practice on handling requests for flexible working. This is to reflect the anticipated reforms to legislation, significant shift in flexible working in the workplace and changing views since the existing Code was published in 2014. The non-statutory guidance which sits alongside the Code will also be updated.
The aim of the Code is to provide employers, employees and representatives with a clear explanation of the law on the statutory right to request flexible working, alongside good practice advice on handling requests in a reasonable manner.
The updated Code seeks to encourage a more positive approach to flexible working, through a new Foreword to the Code and an emphasis on fostering an environment in which requests are not rejected by default without open-minded consideration and meaningful dialogue.
The updated Code also seeks to strengthen the Code’s good practice message by:
- extending the categories of those individuals who may accompany an employee at meetings to discuss a request
- providing guidance that employers should set out such additional information as is reasonable to help explain their decision
- providing guidance that employers should allow an appeal where a request has been rejected
The evidence on flexible working is clear: flexible working can bring a wide range of positive outcomes to both businesses and individuals. And there has been a significant change in perceptions of flexible working globally, due in part to ways of working changing during and since the covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.
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