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A new statutory Code of Practice on requests for flexible working alongside accompanying guidance has been published by the workplace experts.
All employees now have the right to ask their employer if they can work flexibly from their first day of employment. This right, which came into force on 6 April, previously only applied if employees worked for their employer for 26 weeks or more.
The new Acas Code covers the new changes to the law around statutory flexible working requests. These are:
- A new right to request flexible working from the first day of employment
- Allowing an employee to make two flexible working requests in any 12-month period rather than one
- A new requirement that an employer must not reject a request without consulting the employee first
- Employers now having two months to decide on the request rather than three months.
The new Code underwent a consultation process in its draft form last year. Of the respondents to the consultation, 77 per cent agreed that Acas should reconsider the overall good practice principles when updating the Code to reflect changes to the law.
The Code encourages employers to take a positive approach to flexible working so that requests are not rejected by default without due consideration and an open dialogue about what may be workable.
It is important for employers to comply with the Code as any breach may be considered by an employment tribunal for relevant cases.
Acas has also published new detailed guidance to accompany the Code, which provides practical examples for employers and employees on flexible working requests.
Susan Clews, Acas Chief Executive, said: “There has been a global shift to flexible working following the pandemic, which has allowed more people to better balance their working lives and employers have also benefitted from being an attractive place to work.
“Our new Code aims to foster flexible working further and covers the new law changes. It sets out good practice on flexible working requests and will help employers and employees avoid any pitfalls.
“There are many types of flexible working such as part-time working, flexitime, job sharing, staggered hours, hybrid and homeworking. The starting position for businesses should be to consider what may be possible.”
The new Code and guidance can be seen here.
As environmental protection demands unified action, transparency, and heightened awareness, Biological Preparations has launched an initiative to catalyse sustainability efforts within the FM sector.
FM businesses face unique challenges and heightened expectations of eco-initiatives from their clients. Yet, behind the scenes in FM businesses, many environmental initiatives, rollouts and even planning, are not broadcasted and transparent.
Have your say: Sustainability Trends in FM
The UK biotech company’s five-minute, anonymous FM-focused survey, offers FM professionals of all hierarchies with a platform to voice their perspectives and share their experiences. The results from this survey will then be analysed and presented as an industry-specific report, which aims to guide FM businesses helping them benchmark trends, gain clarity on industry challenges, and map out goals and metrics towards sustainability.
To share your experiences, please click here.
