Social & labour
Flexible Working
Definition
Flexible working is any way of working that suits an employee's needs, covering changes to the number of hours worked, start and finish times, days worked or place of work (including homeworking). In the UK every employee has the legal right to request flexible working — a statutory application — from their first day in a job. Employers must handle requests in a reasonable manner under the Acas code of practice: assessing advantages and disadvantages, discussing alternatives and offering an appeal; refusal is permitted only for a recognised business reason, and unreasonable handling can be taken to an employment tribunal.
References
definition and scope (hours, times, days, location), day-one right to request, reasonable-manner duty, Acas code, refusal on business grounds
Overview
What it means
Flexible working converts work–life fit from a perk into a procedural right: the duty is to consider reasonably, not to grant — but the day-one right and tribunal backstop shift the default toward accommodation. It is a core lever for retaining carers, disabled workers and older workers in employment.
How it is used
Used in HR policy, equality and inclusion strategy, and post-pandemic hybrid-work design; referenced in social reporting on workforce wellbeing.
Why it matters
Access to flexibility shapes labour-market participation and gender equality in care; it is among the most tangible workplace-sustainability measures employees experience.