Family Friendly Policy

The right to apply for flexible working

The Family friendly Policy launched by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on 6 April 2003 gives employees increased rights to apply for flexible working.

Who is eligible?

• Parents of children aged under six or of disabled children aged 18 or under
• An employee who has worked with their employer continuously for 26 weeks at the date the application is made
• Make the application no later than two weeks before the child´s sixth birthday or 18th birthday for disabled children
• Have and expect to have responsibility for the child´s upbringing
• Be making the application to enable them to care for the child
• Not be an agency worker or a member of the Armed Forces
• Not have made another application to work flexibly under the right during the past 12 months
  

Employer´s rights

As an employer, you will have a statutory duty to consider any such application. If you turn down any application, you must provide clear business grounds, together with the reasons, why this is so.

Eligible employee´s rights

To request a change to the hours they work or the hours they are required to work, and apply to work from home.