A guide for employees and employers

Checklist - Flexible Working Arrangements: Rights and Responsibilities of Employees and Employers

To request a variation to their hours of work, days of work or place of work.
To have their request considered properly in accordance with the set process and refused only where there is a Recognised Business Ground for doing so.
Where a request is refused, to have an explanation for the ground for refusal.
To seek assistance from the Department of Labour.
In certain circumstances, take a complaint to mediation and the Employment Relations Authority.

To ensure their request is valid by checking that all the eligibility criteria are met and that they have provided all the necessary information.
To ensure the request is made well in advance of when they want it to take effect.
To provide enough information to enable their employer to give their request proper consideration.
To be prepared to discuss their request in an open and constructive manner.
If necessary, be prepared to be flexible themselves in order to reach an agreement with the employer.

To consider requests properly in accordance with the set process.
To adhere to the time limits contained within the process.
To provide the employee with appropriate support and information during the course of the request.
To refuse a request only where there is a Recognised Business Ground and to explain to the employee why it applies.
To ensure that any variation of the process is agreed in advance with the employee and recorded.