7. Requests under the Flexible Working Regulations
7.1 Under the Flexible Working (Amendment) Regulations 2023, staff members have a statutory right to request flexible from the first day of their employment.
7.2 When making a statutory request, a staff member's application must:
- be in writing;
- be dated;
- specify the change that they are seeking;
- state the date they wish the change to take effect; and
- state the date when the requested changes will end, if the request is not for a permanent change.
7.3 The decision (including any appeal) must be made within two months of the date of the request.
7.4 However, this time limit can be extended by agreement between the Institution and the employee; for example, to accommodate a trial period, annual or sick leave. Any such agreement should be recorded in writing by the Institution, be dated, specify what time limit the extension relates to and specify the date on which the extension is to end. A copy should be provided for the staff member, who will be asked to confirm that they have received this notification.
7.5 A staff member may make two statutory requests for flexible working within any 12-month period. However, a staff member may have only one live request at any one time. Once a flexible working request has been made, it remains live until:
- A decision about the request is made; or
- The request is withdrawn; or
- An outcome is mutually agreed; or
- The statutory two-month period for deciding requests ends.