Government-Supported Flexible Working Bill Passes Unopposed Second Reading in House of Lords
Key Highlights :
The UK government has recently passed a bill that seeks to amend existing legislation to give employees the right to request flexible working from their first day of employment. The Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill, which was sponsored by Labour MP Yasmin Qureshi, received an unopposed second reading in the House of Lords.
Under the current rules, a person who has 26 weeks of continuous service with their employer can request a change to their working hours, times or location. They are also required to explain the effect of the change on their employer and can only make one request in a 12-month period. The Bill seeks to amend existing legislation to allow employees to make two requests per 12 months, no longer have to explain the impact on their employer and require consultation before an application is refused.
Both the Conservatives and Labour committed to make flexible working the default in their 2019 election manifestos. The Bill has already cleared the House of Commons and is now on course to become law in the coming weeks. Speaking for Labour in the Lords, business spokeswoman Baroness Blake of said flexible working should not be considered a “job perk” but an unemployment right.
The Earl of Minto, a business minister, said: “We will be removing the 26-week qualifying period and making the right to request flexible working available to all employees from the very first day of their employment.” He added: “These changes represent a timely, sensible and proportionate update to the right to request flexible working and reflect what many employers already do.”
The Bill is seen as a very welcome starting point for reforming working conditions and is set to benefit over 50,000 new and expectant mothers each year. It is hoped that the new legislation will help those who need to balance their work and personal life to participate in the labour market.
The government's decision to pass the Bill unopposed has been met with widespread support from employers and employees alike. Flexible working is increasingly becoming an important factor for many people when deciding where and how to work. With the passage of this Bill, employees will now have the right to request flexible working from their first day in a job.
This legislation is a step in the right direction for creating a more flexible and fair working environment in the UK. It is hoped that the Bill will bring about a much-needed change in the way employers view and offer flexible working to their employees.
