Flexible Working Legislation – changes effective 6 April 2024

Circular No: Legal/04/24

To All Branches, Regional Offices & Regional Councils

3rd April 2024 Dear Colleagues

LEGAL CIRCULAR

Flexible Working Legislation – changes effective 6 April 2024

A number of important changes to flexible working legislation will come into force on 6 April 2024.

TheEmployment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023 and the Flexible Working (Amendment) Regulations 2023 introduce the following changes to flexible working rights:

1. All employees will have the right to request flexible working from day 1 of their employment.

2. Employees can now make two flexible working requests in any 12-month period.

3. Flexible working requests must be dealt with by employers within two months or receipt of a request, including any appeal, if no extension is agreed by the employee.

4. Employers cannot refuse a flexible working request until they have consulted with the employee.

5. Employees are no longer required to explain in their application what effect they think agreeing to the request would have and how any such effect might be dealt with.

Any members who believe that their flexible working rights have been breached should complete and submit an L2 – request for legal assistance to their Regional Office for consideration by the RMT Legal Department regarding a potential claim.

I would be grateful if you could bring this circular to the attention of your members. Yours sincerely

Michael Lynch General Secretary