Previously, this benefit was only available to those who had worked for their employer for at least 26 weeks.
The business and commerce minister, Kevin Hollinrake, supported the Flexible Working (Amendment) Regulations 2023, citing “a happier workforce [which] means increased productivity,” and they received royal assent in July.
Although the word “flexible working” is broad, it refers to working in a manner other than the traditional 9 to 5 office. This can involve changing an employee’s place of employment to avoid having to commute, for example.
Under Tony Blair’s administration, the phrase and its use initially surfaced in the early 2000s, when caregivers for individuals under the age of eighteen and parents of children under the age of six may request a flexible work schedule.
