Reform of the right to request flexible working

Implementation date: Expected 2027

The Employment Rights Bill includes provisions intended to "make flexible working the default". Under the Bill, the grounds for refusing a statutory flexible working request will remain the same, but an employer will be able to refuse a request only if it is reasonable to do so. The employer will have to state why it considers its refusal to be reasonable.

The Government has confirmed, in Implementing the Employment Rights Bill: Our roadmap for delivering change, that these measures will take effect in 2027.