Back to school, back to flexibility

As children return to school, many working parents face new challenges balancing work and family life. The school run, after-school clubs, homework, and unexpected inset days can all add extra layers of stress. Now is a great time for employers to review flexible working arrangements and ensure their policies meet both legal requirements and the needs of their people.

The Legal Landscape for Flexible Working in the UK

Employers have a legal duty to consider flexible working requests, it's no longer acceptable to say "no, because everyone else will want it" nowadays.

Here are the key points every director of a business should know:

• Right to Request from Day One: Since April 2024, all employees have the legal right to request flexible working from the first day of employment, thanks to the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023. Previously, employees had to wait 26 weeks.

• Employer Response Times: Employers must respond to flexible working requests within two months (reduced from three months under previous rules).

• Employment Rights Bill: Additional reforms are on the horizon which are expected to further strengthen employee rights to request and appeal flexible working arrangements.

• Equality Act 2010: Employers must also be mindful of the duty to make reasonable adjustments for employees with caring responsibilities, ensuring no indirect discrimination occurs (e.g. against women, who statistically carry more childcare duties).

By understanding and complying with these laws, organisations not only stay compliant but also foster a culture of trust and inclusivity. And that's important for businesses to be able to recruit and retain staff.

Hello People's Top Tips for Employers

1. Flexible Working Requests: make sure managers are trained on the new rules. Remember that flexible working isn’t just about reduced hours, it can include compressed weeks, hybrid arrangements, staggered start and finish times, or job-sharing.

2. Reasonable Adjustments: consider temporary changes to hours or location to support parents during the back-to-school transition. A small adjustment, like shifting a start time by 30 minutes, can make a huge difference.

3. Clear Policies: ensure your flexible working policy is up to date, reflects the latest legislation, and is easily accessible to all staff. If you don't have one then listen up: YOU NEED ONE!

4. Open Conversations: encourage your directors and managers to have empathetic, consistent discussions about flexibility. A culture where employees feel safe to ask for what they need reduces stress and boosts retention. If you don't support your team members we can pretty much guarantee they will find another employer who does.

5. Promote Wellbeing: back-to-school can be emotionally draining for parents and children alike. Consider offering wellbeing initiatives, such as access to Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs), family-friendly webinars, or mental health check-ins.

UK Companies doing flexible well

Many employers are already embracing real flexibility as a way to attract and retain top talent, we've seen some great examples like:

• Aviva who offer equal parental leave and have introduced flexible policies allowing parents to manage childcare commitments.

• Lloyds Banking Group are actively promoting hybrid and flexible working, with policies tailored to support parents and carers.

• Unilever UK operates a "Performance with Flexibility" approach, where staff agree working patterns that suit both business and personal needs.

• Nationwide Building Society has introduced a "work anywhere" model, giving staff flexibility to choose locations and schedules that work for them.

We believe that these examples show that flexibility is not just feasible it’s becoming the norm.

Supporting Working Parents is Smart Business

When organisations actively support working parents, everyone benefits:

• Increased loyalty and retention

• Reduced absenteeism

• Higher productivity

• Stronger employer brand

In our opinion it’s not just good practice - it’s good business!

Need help reviewing your policies, updating your employee handbook, or handling flexible working requests?

The Hello People Solutions team is here to support you just get in touch via email (hrteam@hellopeoplesolutions.com) or call us on 0115 9304 303.