A brief employers’ guide to flexible work

A brief employers’ guide to flexible work

In this super-connected world, there is much talk around flexible working and how this can affect and benefit business. But what does the term ‘flexible working’ actually mean? And as a business leader, what do you need to know to support your organisation and employees?

• Individuals who have been working for the same UK employer continuously for at least 26 weeks are entitled to request flexible working arrangements.

• Employers must consider flexible working requests within 3 months.

• Employers must have a legitimate business reason for rejecting employee requests.

• Employees can only make one application for flexible working in any 12 month period.

Visit gov.uk/flexible-working to find out more about your rights and obligations

Types of flexible working

Job sharing Remote working Part-time Compressed hours

Flexitime Annualised hours Staggered hours Phased retirement

73%

offer flexible working to their employees

87%

of those who offer flexible working have had staff take up flexible working arrangements

Top reasons why employers embrace flexible working:

To improve staff work-life balance 70%

To help retain staff 60%

To attract a wider pool of talent 45%

Remote working

• Remote working is a type of flexible working.

• If the employee works remotely on a formal arrangement, it should be written in their contract or a written arrangement document is produced.

• Informal and ad-hoc arrangements are not required to be written in the contract, but should be regularly reviewed.

• Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, employers are responsible for carrying out a risk assessment of the employee’s working environment.

• If the employee works predominantly on a client’s site, the contract between the company and the client should include health and safety arrangements and responsibilities.

How do entrepreneurs see remote working?*

88%

of IoD members who run start-ups offer remote working to their employees

98%

of entrepreneur members who offer remote working have had staff make use of such arrangements

Types of remote working arrangements that IoD start-up members have with their staff:

22%

• Formal arrangements

53%

Informal arrangements

24%

• A mix of both

Why do entrepreneurs embrace remote working?

To improve staff work/life balance 72%

To help reduce costs, such as commercial rents 57%

To reduce the commuting burden 47%