Published September 2021 and kept as a record. The figures and the law have moved on since it was written. For the current position see the Employment Rights Act timeline. Note added 21 October 2026.
Workers to gain right to request flexible working from first day. Under the new plan,
employees who work from home would be able to do flexible hours and remotely, without needing the permission of their bosses. The plan is aimed at helping individuals who want or need flexible working arrangements e.g., to look after children or cut the long commute.
Chief executive at Evenbreak comments, ‘"Before the pandemic there was a huge resistance for people working from home, but the reality is they are just as productive if not more so - it's just a pity it took a global pandemic for employers to trust their employees."
What Employees Want
Totaljobs content head, Stephen Warnham says the move points towards a growth in hybrid ways where people are trusted with flexible working arrangements that allow them "to be productive and get things done.”
Totaljobs found that 9 out of 10 employees want to work from a variety of locations. In fact, this is something that they listed as one the top three desired workplace demands! With many companies providing remote or flexible schedules only for select staff members now-a days, it's clear how popular such arrangements really are with workers everywhere - especially when you consider just how few options we have otherwise.
Giving Full Rights
Flexible work schedules should be a right from day one for everyone, says general secretary of TUC Frances O'Grady. Since employers can reject requests for flexible working, she adds "The government should change the law so that workers have the legal right to flexible work from day one in the job - not just the right to ask for it."
If employee contracts mention the place of work, employees legally have no right to work remotely. Gill McAteer, Citation head of employment law says, "Until this becomes a reality, employees will have to accept their employer's back to work plan or face challenging it through the existing flexible working process."