1. Introduction

While it has always been common for requests for part-time working to be received, the government has committed to imposing a legal obligation on employers to seriously consider flexible working requests from employees. With effect from April 2003, employees who have children under six or disabled children under 18, and have six months qualifying service will be able to make such a request. There will not be a right to flexible working, but rather there will be a right to make a request.

This new right, as well as the planned increase and extension to maternity leave and pay and paid adoption and paternity leave, together with the existing rights to parental leave and time off for dependants, will provide parents with the greatest opportunity yet to balance work and family.

Flexible working relates to a range of working arrangements including part-time working, annualised hours, term-time working, job sharing, shift working, home working, flexi-time, and teleworking. The request could be as simple as requesting to start work an hour later to be able to drop your child at nursery, with the time being made up at the end of each day.