Flexible working rules are different in Northern Ireland.
Quick facts
- Who
- All employees
- When
- From your first day
- Decision
- Within 2 months
- Refusal
- Only for a business reason
- Tribunal
- Within 6 months
What you can ask for
Employees can request a change to:
- the number of hours they work
- when they start or finish work
- the days they work
- where they work
This is known as ‘making a statutory application’.
Types of flexible working
- Job sharing: two people do one job and split the hours.
- Remote working and working from home
- Hybrid working
- Part time
- Compressed hours
- Flexitime
- Annualised hours
What your employer must do
Employers must deal with requests in a ‘reasonable manner’.
They must make a decision within 2 months of the request (or longer if agreed with the employee).
An employer can refuse an application if they have a good business reason for doing so.
If you are refused
Employees no longer have a statutory right to an appeal but may still be able to appeal. Employees should check with their employer if they offer an appeals process.
If an employer does not handle a request in a reasonable manner, the employee can take them to an employment tribunal. See employment tribunals.
Common questions
When can I ask for flexible working?
From your first day in a job.
How long does my employer have to decide?
2 months from the request, or longer if you agree.
Can my employer say no?
Yes, if they have a good business reason for doing so.
Is it the same in Northern Ireland?
No. Flexible working rules are different in Northern Ireland.