The move to a more flexible, hybrid working environment has been fast-tracked following lockdown rules requiring people to work from home. The new rules, if approved, will come into force from April 2023.  

The proposals will now go out for public consultation, with the centrepiece of the reforms proposing that every employee will be given the right to request flexible working – regardless of time served – under government plans to modernise working arrangements. The current system requires employees to have worked at least six months before they can make a request for flexible working, while they can only submit one request a year.

The consultation also looks at cutting the current three-month period an employer has to consider any request as well as reviewing the eight reasons to refuse flexible working.