10/06/2008
Proposed New Rights for Working Parents
The majority of families today consist of working parents and as a result measures have been implemented in an attempt to combine flexible work patterns to suit individual circumstances. Flexible working can enable individuals to strike a better balance between their home and work responsibilities.
Flexible working is any work pattern adapted to suit an individuals needs in order to balance work and home life. Flexible working includes part time hours, flexi-time and job sharing, to mention but a few.
Under the Employment Rights Act 2002, employers are under a duty to seriously consider an employee's request for flexible working and should only reject it for good business reasons. However, individuals need to be aware that if the employer agrees to the request, this will result in a permanent change to the employee's contract of employment.
Currently anyone can request flexible working but there is a statutory right to request if you have a child under the age of 6 or a disabled child under the age of 18.
The Work and Families Act 2006 extended the right to include carers of adults. The term 'carer' has a very wide definition and includes spouse/partner or family member of the employee and even extends to someone living at the same address of the employee. The government have recently confirmed that the right will further extend to parents of children up to the age of 16. This means that many more parents will have the right to request flexible working in an attempt to strike a healthy balance between work and home life.
Further guidance in relation to flexible working rights can be obtained by contacting ACAS on their helpline - 08457 474747 or alternatively by visiting their website on www.acas.org.uk
Lisa Guscott is a solicitor in the Personal Injury Department at Watkins & Gunn solicitors and can be contacted on 01495 745177 |
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