Flexible Working

Our team of Employment solicitors consists of dedicated specialists and lawyers who deal exclusively with employment law. The team have over 30 years’ experience collectively and have wide, in-depth knowledge of all employment matters and disputes.

You can be assured Lawson-West’s solicitors keep up to date with the latest legal developments and changes to bring you the best advice.

Lawson-West’s expert employment solicitors and lawyers have significant experience ensuring clients secure their flexible working entitlements.

Since 30th June 2014, any employee with over 26 week's continuous service is now able to make a flexible working request, to a maximum of one request per year.

There is no automatic right to flexible working. However, you do have the right to request it.  You could request a change to the hours you work, a change to the times you work or to work from home.  Before you make your request, consider the impact of your request on colleagues and other employees and on your employer's business.  If you can show that you have thought about the impact, you are more likely to succeed in your request.               

An application should be made in writing to the relevant person within your organisation, this is usually Human Resources. The employer should contact you to arrange a meeting to discuss your application and provide their decision.  If an application for flexible working is made as a result of childcare commitments and/or caring responsibilities, refusal without foundation could amount to an act of discrimination.

An employer can refuse the request, but only on one of eight specific business grounds, as follows:

  • the burden of additional costs 
  • an inability to reorganise work amongst existing staff 
  • an inability to recruit additional staff 
  • a detrimental impact on quality 
  • a detrimental impact on performance 
  • detrimental effect on ability to meet customer demand 
  • insufficient work for the periods the employee proposes to work 
  • Planned structural changes to the business.

If you are experiencing problems with flexible working, we can help. Please remember there are strict time limits in Employment claims and you should take good free legal advice as soon as possible.

In addition to No Win No Fee, Lawson-West solicitors act for our clients on a variety of other funding arrangements including Legal Expenses insurance funding. We can assess your case to decide which is the best funding option for you.

With offices in Leicester, Wigston and Market Harborough our employment solicitors and lawyers can discuss your employment law claim at any of our branches. In addition, we are a national provider of expert employment law advice and welcome a free discussion with you regarding your circumstances and potential claim.

If you believe you have a situation where you require free legal advice, please contact us on telephone 0116 212 1000 or 01858 445 480, alternatively fill in the free Contact Us form and we will get in touch as soon as possible.