MILLIONS of workers could soon see a huge change to flexible working hours as new plans move a step closer.
Members of the House of Lords have supported moves to give employees the right to request flexible working from their first day in a job.
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The Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill is supported by the Government and received an unopposed reading in the Lords.
You currently have to be employed at a company for six months or more before you can ask for flexible working.
This includes a change to their working hours, times or location.
Workers are also need to explain the effect of the change on their employer and can only make one request in a 12-month period.
The Bill seeks to amend this existing legislation to allow employees to make two requests per 12 months and no longer have to explain any impact on their employer.
But your company will still need to approve your flexible working request which of course, isn’t guaranteed.
Flexible working has been found to help employees balance their work and home life.
It helps to people who have responsibilities such as caring for children or vulnerable people, the Government has previously said.
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The Bill will undergo further scrutiny at a later date and is on course to become law in the coming weeks.
It comes after 100 companies signed up to become “accredited” employers in a nationwide scheme to test a four-day week.
Only those who work for these select companies will benefit, but organisers 4 Day Week Global hope it will fundamentally change the UK’s approach to work.
What are my flexible working rights?
Employers are legally within their rights to tell you where they’d like you to work.
But at the same time, employees have a legal right to ask for flexible working.
However, this does not mean that your boss has to agree to your request – companies can stop employees working from home if they have “good business reasons”, law firm Doyle Clayton partner Dan Begbie-Clench previously told The Sun.
How can I ask my boss for more flexible working?
Millions of workers will be able to request flexible working from the first day of a new job.
But many companies are already choosing to let staff work from home.
But if your employer is less keen on letting you work from home, here are a few tips on how to ask for the benefit.
Begbie-Clench previously told The Sun that there is helpful guidance you can use on the gov.uk website to help you request flexible working.
He said employees should “explain whether their request to work flexibly might have an impact on their team, performance and the business and how they would deal with it”.
Citizens Advice said workers should show some flexibility, perhaps offering to come into the office part-time when possible.
It added: “Start by having an open conversation with your employer about your wishes, and consider making a flexible working request, which is a legal right all employees have.
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