Flexible Working – All You Need to Know

Flexible working offers employees the freedom to work from home, work part-time, or change their hours without losing job security. This arrangement is ideal for balancing family responsibilities and career goals. However, making a request can be challenging. Here’s everything you need to know about flexible working and how to request it successfully.

What is Flexible working?

• Flexible working is a term used to describe a workplace model in which employees are able to work from home at different times of the day or week as long as they meet certain guidelines.
• A flexible working arrangement offers many benefits, including increased productivity, reduced stress levels, and improved work-life balance.
• It is important that employers approach flexible working with care and consideration, making sure their employees are aware of the benefits and limitations of flexible working arrangements.
• There are various ways in which flexible working can be implemented in an organization, depending on the size and nature of the business.
• Some employers opt for flexible hours while others prefer flexi-time. The choice depends on factors such as employee preference, organizational structure, and job roles.
• While flexible working can be beneficial for both employees and employers alike, it should not be confused with telecommuting – a different type of working arrangement in which employees perform their duties from a remote location.

Flexible Working Request

You must complete an online application to request flexible working arrangements. This should include details of your request, as well as details of your current and future working arrangements. When your application is processed, you’ll be contacted to discuss your needs in more detail and how we can help.

If your employer agrees to flexible working, you will be required to wear a flexi-time wristband to track your hours worked. This should indicate how flexible working arrangements are making a positive impact on the way you work and balance your life.

Right to Request Flexible Working

If you are a UK employee working more than 48 hours a week, you have the right to request flexible working arrangements. This could include working part-time or from home, taking time off for personal reasons, or working flexible hours. If your request is denied, there may be legal recourse as your employer must consider your request and provide you with suitable alternative employment.

If your request is denied repeatedly, it may be time to explore other employment options. Ultimately, if you are unable to work the hours you would like due to your job, it’s worth exploring flexible working options and seeking out new opportunities.

How to Make a Successful Flexible Working Request?

To make a successful flexible working request, you’ll need to be prepared and know what to say. Before making a request for flexible working hours, be sure to sit down and discuss your request with your manager or supervisor. Also, consider compromising on aspects of your work schedule, such as daily or weekly hours or the type of work you do.

If you are making a request for flexible working hours, documentation is key. You should document your request, including when you made it and the time you requested it. You must also keep track of the progress of the negotiations and be willing to negotiate on certain aspects of your work schedule.

Not all employers will be willing to accommodate flexible working requests, so be prepared to explain why yours is important and what concession(s) you are willing to make.

Types of Flexible Working – Examples

Many working professionals opt for flexible working arrangements to achieve work-life balance. These include flexible hours, flexible job titles and flexible working hours.

Job sharing

Many flexible working arrangements are available to help you balance your work and personal life. One such arrangement is k, allowing two or more employees to share the new job title and work from their own locations. This arrangement can be beneficial if you want to keep your job while taking on additional responsibilities.

However, job sharing can also lead to conflict if one employee takes advantage of their position. If two or more employees are assigned to the same job title but work from different locations, there may be confusion about who is responsible for completing certain tasks. This can lead to inefficiency and delays in project completion.

Another flexible working arrangement is part-time work. Part-time work allows you to work a flexible schedule that suits your personal life without sacrificing your career goals.

By working part-time, you can balance your professional and personal lives while still making progress toward your long-term goals. However, part-time jobs typically don’t offer the same financial security as full-time jobs, making it important to carefully consider your options before making a decision.

Working from home

There are a variety of flexible working options that can help you balance work and life. Working from home is an option that allows you to work remotely while maintaining a flexible schedule. However, working from home can be challenging, requiring you to manage multiple tasks and responsibilities simultaneously. To stay productive and efficient, it’s important to use tools such as task managers or productivity apps.

These tools help you prioritize your work and stay on top of deadlines. Additionally, plenty of resources are available online to help you manage work from home effectively. Whether you’re working from home full-time or part-time, there are many ways to reduce stress and increase productivity.

Part-time

Part-time, flexible working opportunities allow employees to balance work and home life while maintaining their current income. Some employers offer part-time flexible working in the form of remote working or telecommuting. Remote working allows employees to work from home, while telecommuting allows employees to work from a remote location.

Part-time jobs have a number of advantages, including increased productivity and reduced stress in the workplace. There is a range of options for finding flexible working opportunities that will work for you and your lifestyle.

Compressed hours

Compressed working hours are a flexible working option that allows individuals to reduce their working hours by up to 50%. Compressed working hours can be an excellent way to balance work and personal life, especially for individuals with responsibilities outside the workplace. Compressed working hours can also be beneficial for employees who want to take care of personal or family obligations during non-working hours.

For instance, Compressed working hours can help employees care for children or elderly relatives without sacrificing their professional responsibilities.

Compressed hours can be a good option for employees who want to take time off for medical appointments or other important events. Overall, compressed working hours allow workers to stay on top of their responsibilities while still having enough time to pursue their personal interests and goals.

Flexitime

Flexitime is a form of flexible working that allows employees to work different hours during the week, depending on their needs, like weekend jobs. It is useful if you want to take care of your family or pursue other interests outside of work. Flexitime can be a good option if you want to take some time off after maternity or paternity leave.

When choosing a flexible working arrangement, there are a variety of factors to consider, including the type of work and responsibilities involved, the company’s culture, and the benefits and challenges of working flexible hours. It is important to thoroughly research different flexible working options so that you can find one that works best for you and your career goals.

Annualised hours

Annualised hours allow employees to work a set number of hours each week rather than working an alternating schedule. This type of flexible working arrangement is usually good for people who want to reduce their time spent at the office. Annualised hours can be helpful if you have responsibilities outside the workplace, such as caring for children or elderly relatives. Before accepting an annualised hours offer, it is important to research the benefits and risks of this type of flexible working arrangement.

Staggered hours

Staggered hours allow employees to work different hours during the week, which can improve their work/life balance. It can also save business rates by reducing the need for overtime or hiring extra staff. There are a variety of different types of staggered working hours that businesses can use. Flexitime and rostering are just a few examples.

Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks, so it’s important for small businesses to carefully consider the pros and cons before making any changes to their flexible working policies.

Deciding to implement staggered working hours can be an exciting and challenging decision for any company. Businesses must weigh the benefits and costs of changing their flexible working arrangements, considering factors such as business culture, operations, and cost savings.

Phased retirement

Some people choose to phase their retirement or take a phased retirement approach. Phased retirement allows people to gradually reduce their working hours over a set period of time. This can help them maintain their living standard while transitioning into retirement.

There are a number of benefits to taking a phased retirement approach, including increased leisure time and reduced stress in the work-life balance. If you are planning for your retirement, taking a phased retirement approach can help you enjoy your remaining working years while saving money and reducing stress.

Flexible Working Arrangements

Flexible working arrangements are becoming increasingly popular as they offer a host of benefits to both employees and employers.

Types of flexible working arrangements include part-time jobs, job share, flexible hours, job shares, work-from-home options, and flextime. These allow employees to balance their work and personal life as they please.

Depending on the job type and responsibilities, flexible working arrangements can be beneficial for employees in terms of work-life balance and job satisfaction. But it’s important to understand the legal requirements before negotiating flexible working arrangements.

To begin with, flexible working must be an option for an employee under their employment contract. In addition, flexible working must be mutually agreed upon between the employee and employer. It must not compromise the core business or create a conflict with the employer’s policies or practices. Tips on how to manage flexible working include setting clear working hours and making time for personal interests.

Flexible Working Policy

A flexible working policy can help small businesses of any size to accommodate employees’ personal and professional needs. It allows employees to balance work and personal responsibilities, making balancing life as a whole easier. However, defining flexible working is not a simple task.

You need to define flexible working in terms of job types, hours of work, organizational structure, and financial arrangements. In terms of job types, flexible working could be applied to part-time, full-time, or fixed-term jobs.

The hours of work could be flexible based on the employee’s preferences or business needs. With regard to organizational structure, flexible working could be applied to remote or on-site working arrangements. Financial arrangements could be flexible as well, allowing for flexible working hours and salary arrangements.

It is important to document flexible working policies clearly and widely so that all employees are aware of them. Also, you must clearly and consistently communicate your flexible working policy across the organization. Finally, you must ensure flexible working policies are implemented smoothly and without any disruptions.

Flexible Working Hours

A flexible working environment is one where employees are allowed to work flexible hours. Allowing employees to work flexible hours leads to a more productive and stress-free work environment. This allows employees to be more engaged and loyal.

But flexible working hours also improve employee morale and productivity. In addition, employees allowed to work flexible hours tend to take more time off when needed. This can help prevent burnout and improve their ability to stay healthy and active at work.

However, flexible working hours come with a cost. Implementing flexible working hours can be expensive, but the benefits outweigh the costs in the long run. Besides, there are many benefits of flexible working hours that cannot be ignored.

Work From Home Flexible Hours

Working from home can be a great way to increase productivity and be more flexible in your work. By working from home, you can set your own hours and be able to manage your time and energy better. It’s also possible to work from anywhere in the world as long as you have an internet connection. This allows you to work from flexible locations such as remote offices or a coffee shop if you are short on space at home.

Additionally, working from home may allow you to enjoy working more than working in an office. If you find that working from home suits your work style or have special business requirements, it may be worth trying this flexible option.

Benefits of Flexible Working

• Flexible working can offer many benefits for employees, from increased productivity and satisfaction to saving money on employee training and development costs.
• Employees who are flexible can adapt to changes in their work schedules without disruption. This allows them to take part-time jobs or flexible hours without losing their footing in the job market.
• Flexible working enables employees to take advantage of new opportunities that arise. This allows them to balance work and family life more easily. Plus, flexible working helps build a strong team culture, as employees are able to work together comfortably regardless of their hours or days of the week.
• Finally, flexible working can be a good way to experience career progression. Employees can better understand and appreciate the value of different job types and responsibilities by making flexible work arrangements part of their job.

As flexible working becomes more popular, businesses should consider whether it is right for their business and the individual employees involved.

Conclusion

Many employees benefit greatly from flexible working arrangements, and businesses benefit. But for some, it’s just not worth the effort. It’s crucial to assess your team and organisation’s strengths, weaknesses, and responsibilities. According to research, employees frequently value work-life balance more than they do compensation. You can attract a more diverse talent pool, increase productivity, and manage happier, more engaged employees if you provide flexibility from the start.

FAQ – Flexible Working

What are the rules for flexible working?

• To be eligible for flexible working, you must be employed by an employer who offers it.
• You can request flexible working hours either orally or in writing.
• Your employer must offer you the same terms and conditions of employment regardless of whether you are working flexible hours or not.
• If your employer fails to comply with your request for flexible working, you may file a complaint with the Labour Department.

Does my employer have to give me flexible work?

Generally, your employer does not have to give you flexible working arrangements. However, if you are an employee with a protected characteristic (e.g. maternity leave, parental leave, etc.), your employer may have to accommodate you.

For example, if you are pregnant and need time off to care for your baby, your employer may have to grant you flexible working arrangements. Alternatively, if you have parental leave planned, your employer may have to allow you to work part-time during this time.

Alternatively, you can ask your employer for flexible working arrangements if they adversely impact your work or personal life. You may take legal employment action if the request is not acceded to.

What reasons can an employer refuse flexible working?

An employer may refuse flexible working if it would cause an undue burden on the business. For example, the employer may insist that work hours be kept the same or that working from home not be an option.

An employer may also refuse flexible working if it conflicts with the company’s culture or values. For example, some companies may feel that working from home would be disruptive to the business atmosphere.

In order to request flexible working, an employee must first speak to their boss and explain their needs in a clear and concise manner. The request must also be based on a genuine need and not be simply for personal convenience.

Once flexible working has been approved, the employer must take into account any existing health and safety concerns when considering how it should be implemented. For example, making sure that employees are properly trained on how to work from home safely.

How do you prove flexibility at work?

If you want to show that you are flexible and willing to work with your employees, then you can provide evidence of your flexible working policy or practice. Examples of evidence of a flexible working policy or practice include written policies, email communication, and employee feedback surveys.

If you cannot provide evidence of your flexible working policy or practice, you may be able to demonstrate that you have tried to accommodate the needs of your employees. This means that you have communicated with your employees about their flexible working requests, provided flexible work hours, or allowed them to work from home occasionally.

What are the disadvantages of flexible working for employees?

There are disadvantages to flexible working hours for employees. Some of the major disadvantages include the following:

• Employees may feel pressured to work flexible hours if their employer does not provide a sufficiently regular work schedule.
• Employees who are not used to flexible working hours may experience stress and fatigue.
• Employees who are not given sufficient time to adjust to a flexible working schedule may quit or be fired.

What are the good reasons for flexible working?

Flexible working can be a great way to help balance work and personal responsibilities. It can also be a way for employees to focus on their careers rather than the stress of constantly juggling work and home life. Some good reasons for flexible working include family obligations, mental health issues, caring for a sick family member, etc.

Before implementing flexible working arrangements, discussing them with your supervisor/manager is important so that everyone is on the same page. Additionally, make sure to record your hours worked and upload them to your employee portal so that your boss knows what you are doing and how you are performing.