Flexible working

How to make a flexible working request. FREE template letter for staff and a Flexible Working Policy for employers

I receive many enquiries about flexible working, so today I’ll briefly look at flexible working and supply a template letter for staff and a Flexible Working Policy for employers at the end of this post.

A large proportion of the questions I receive is a consequence of an informal approach where a manager has dismissed the employee’s request outright without any consultation or consideration.

There may be good reasons why the request has been refused, but in my opinion, anyone wishing to make a flexible working request, which has the effect of permanently altering the employee’s terms and conditions of employment, should give it their best shot at the outset.

Why? Because you only have one shot at it in any 12-month period.¹

There are specific business reasons why a request may be refused, so it is best practice to start from the position that your employer is going to use any one, or a number, of those reasons to reject your application. The reasons are: