Millions of employees across the UK now have the right to request flexible working from 30 June under new government measures to boost economic growth.
Previously only available to carers, the new rights allow anyone who has worked for their employer for 26 weeks or more to request flexible working arrangements such as part-time, shift and home working.
Ministers expect the new rights to prove particularly beneficial to elderly workers approaching retirement and young people looking to take on additional training or education while they work.
The measures are also expected to help companies retain staff and keep people in long-term employment through increased flexibility, which Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg believes will boost morale and increase productivity.
Commenting on the introduction of the new rights, he suggested that businesses need to adapt to an increasing desire for workers to balance their family and work life. He said: “It’s about time we brought working practices bang up to date with the needs and choices of our modern families.”
According to the change in legislation, any request for flexible working will have to be considered in a reasonable manner by employers, while the government works to make the process simpler.
Conciliation service Acas has published a code of practice to help employers understand the extension of rights and process employee requests to fit their specific circumstances.