Family Friendly and Flexible Working

It is of upmost business sense to treat your staff fairly and considerately. Some forms of discrimination are easier to identify and prevent than others, but the full effects of modern discrimination legislation are often indirect, unseen and misunderstood - especially when it comes to employees with family commitments.

Making the wrong decision can be very costly to your business - even when you stay on the right side of the law.

With a qualified CIPD HR professional as part of our team, we can help you look beyond just "the law" and help you decide what is best for your employees and your business - now and in the future.

What are Flexible Working Applications?

Nearly all employees with 26 weeks' continuous service can request flexible working. Most requests are to accommodate those with family or caring commitments, but there does not have to be a clear reason. Flexible working can involve any kind of arrangement which departs from the standard work pattern and includes flexi-time, home-working, reduced hours or job sharing.

When you receive a request for flexible working it is important that you do not automatically dismiss the application. Employers are only permitted to refuse a request in a limited number of circumstances. You should always give careful thought to whether you can balance your needs as a business with those of your employee.

Tribunals will award compensation of up to 15 weeks' pay to an employee whose flexible working request has not been considered properly or fairly. In the worst cases, a failure to comply with the law can lead to a loss of trust and confidence in you, and your employee may bring a claim for discrimination or resign and claim constructive unfair dismissal.

The average Tribunal award for sex discrimination is £23,500.

Dealing with Flexible Working Requests

If one of your employees wants to change their working pattern, it is important you deal with the enquiry properly and promptly. We help by ensuring you have the right policies in place and follow procedures to the letter, resulting in minimum inconvenience and delay to your business. We advise on how to deal with the request in a balanced way, and provide all the guidance and documents you need to consider the request and implement changes to contract.

If you do need to reject someone's request, then we ensure confidence that you have followed best practice, made a fair decision within the parameters of the law, and are making a decision that is in the best interests of your business.

Employment Law and HR Service Packages

We excel in employment law and HR, so we'll add our legal strength and excellence to your business. Our bespoke, fixed cost employment law and HR support package will be tailored to your needs and budget.

From day one we help put you in the strongest position possible, so that you can concentrate on running your business.

Depending on your needs you can choose from either our bespoke employment law advice or HR support package, or combine them both to benefit from a complete employment law and HR service.

Speak to Professional HR Consultants

Our HR consultants are on hand to provide advice and guidance regarding any questions which you may have. To get in touch, call us on 08000 93 00 94 or fill in our online enquiry form and our advisors will be in touch.