Factsheet - Employees

Flexible working and work-life balance: an introduction

What is it?

‘‘Flexible working arrangements’ is a term used to describe any working pattern adapted to suit your needs while still meeting your employer’s business needs. Common types of flexible working include:

• Flexi-time – for example, part time work, job sharing, compressed weeks, term-time working
• Flexi-place – for example, working from home
• Flexi-career – for example, extended leave or a sabbatical.

You may combine any of these working arrangements to come up with something to suit your needs.

Who can ask for it?

Anyone can ask their employer for flexible working arrangements and expect their request to be considered.

There is also a specific statutory “right to request” flexible working arrangements for some employees. If you have been employed by your employer for 6 months or more and you have the care of another person, you have the statutory right to ask for flexible working arrangements.

In this case your employer must consider any request you make, but they don’t have to agree to it if there’s a good business reason not to. You have the right to ask for flexible working arrangements – not the right to have it.

There is detailed eligibility information in the Guide for employees and employers

How to apply?

If you choose to use the statutory “right to request”, there is a process you must follow. If you are not eligible, the process might still be helpful. Many employers will already have flexible working arrangements policies in place – these should also be considered and followed where appropriate.

Other rights

Other legal provisions that can help you take time off work to care for others are:

• Parental leave, where (depending on your eligibility) you can take periods of paid and unpaid leave from work to care for your children in their first year of life
• Sick or domestic leave which gives you some paid time off work to care for sick dependents

Many employers also have flexible unpaid (and in some cases paid) leave schemes which can be used when caring for others.