Carers to get flexible working request rights

The Government has announced plans to extend the right to request flexible working to employees who care for sick or elderly relatives.

The plans, announced by Tony Blair at a meeting to discuss work-life balance issues, would give carers similar rights to parents, who have been able to make requests for flexible working since 6 April 2003.

A review of flexible working legislation is due to take place in 2006 and any changes to the law are unlikely to be implemented before then.

  • Carers will receive right to request flexible working    Quentin Reade of Personnel Today reports.

  • CIPD urges Government to offer flexible working for all
    •   Personneltoday.com's Mike Berry reports that the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development is urging the Government to extend the flexible working rights further, to cover all workers.

  • EOC welcomes 'historic breakthrough' on flexible working    The Government's commitment to introducing flexible working for carers marks a historic breakthrough in progress towards a society in which families matter, according to Julie Mellor, chair of the Equal Opportunities Commission.

    Also

    Flexible friends  Hilaire Gomer, writing in Employers' Law, looks at how four companies are handling the changes to flexible working laws.

    Carers' coalition to fight for more flexible working   A new coalition has been launched to lobby business and the Government to provide better support for parents and carers.

    Right to request flexible working: the basics    HR & Compliance Centre's employment law reference manual has legal guidance on flexible working laws.  

    How to deal with requests for flexible working  HR & Compliance Centre's How to section outlines the steps to be taken by employers in order to comply with the law on requests for flexible working.

    Right to request flexible working: Policies and documents  From HR & Compliance Centre's policies and documents service.