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Full Management Flexible and hybrid working pack

Flexible working request letter

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Our Flexible Working Request Letter Template simplifies the process, enabling employees to request flexible arrangements with confidence and clarity.

Use this model letter template to request flexible working, such as a change in work pattern, compressed hours, or a reduction or increase in hours.

Reading time
How long to understand and implement this letter?
5 mins
Word count
How many words in this letter?
267
We also have budget-friendly bundles featuring this template:

What is a Flexible working request letter?

The purpose of the Flexible Working Request Letter Template is to provide employees with a formal format to request flexible working arrangements from their employer.

This template helps streamline the process, ensuring clear communication and adherence to relevant laws and policies.

It allows employees to express their needs and preferences regarding working hours, location, or other flexible arrangements, while also helping employers assess and respond to such requests in a structured and fair manner.

Best practice timescale for this to be issued
When should this letter be issued?
As required
Issued by who, to whom
Who should issue this letter, and to whom?
The Employee to the Employer (you)
Applicable legal jurisdiction
In which jurisdiction can this letter be used?
Great Britain & NI (United Kingdom)

What legislation and best practice guidelines have been taken into account in the development of this template?

  • The Employment Rights Act 1996 (ERA): Provides employees with the legal right to request flexible working arrangements.

  • The Flexible Working Regulations 2014 and The Flexible Working Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015: Outlines the statutory procedure that employers must follow when considering flexible working requests.

  • .The Equality Act 2010: Prohibits discrimination based on protected characteristics such as gender, age, disability, or religious beliefs, which includes flexible working arrangements.

  • The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974: Requires employers to consider the health and safety implications of flexible working arrangements.

  • The Working Time Regulations 1998: Set limits on working hours and rest breaks, which may be relevant when considering flexible working requests.

 

Flexible working request [Delete this line]

[Company name]

[Sender address]

 

[date]

[Recipient name]

[Recipient address]

 

Dear [Recipient first name],

 

Request for flexible working

I would like to apply to work a flexible working pattern that is different to my current working pattern under my right provided under section 80F of the Employment Rights Act 1996.

I confirm that I meet each of the eligibility criteria as follows:

  • I have not made more than 1 statutory request to work flexibly during the past 12 months. [A maximum of 1 applicaton can be made in Northern Ireland].
  • [NI only: I have 26 weeks continuous service.]

[Date of any previous request to work flexibly under this right: [date]]

[If you are unable to confirm each of the above then you do not qualify to make a statutory request to work flexibly. This does not mean that your request may not be considered, but you will have to explore this separately with your employer.]

My current working pattern is [insert days/times/place worked].

The working pattern I would like to work in future is [insert days/times/place worked].

I would like this working pattern to commence from [date]. [Note: It might take up to two months for your employer to consider your request.]

I think this change in my working pattern will affect my employer and colleagues as follows:

[Insert the impact on the Company and others that your updated working pattern might have, for example, longer working days may lead to increased efficiency, or shorter working days may have a negative effect on customer service.]

I think the effect on my employer and colleagues can be dealt with as follows:

[Insert what you think the Company can do to mitigate any negative effects.]

Yours [faithfully | sincerely],

 

 

[Sender name]

[Sender job title]

[Sender telephone]
[Sender email]

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In which communication or process sequence does this template belong?

This step
Flexible working request letter template
Next step
Letters
Flexible working request acknowledgement letter template

Use this model letter to notify the employee that their flexible working request has been received and that a meeting will be set up to discuss it with them.

flexible working request letter