What do the flexible working changes mean for your business?
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People know the benefits of working flexibly and there is a huge demand as more people are prioritising their work life balance more than.
In response, the UK government recently introduced significant changes, empowering employees with more control over their work-life balance. But what does this mean for your business?
This article explores the recent changes and highlights the benefits of embracing flexible work. We'll also provide actionable tips to help you implement a flexible working policy that works for your team.
Even if a request is not possible, it is important to be open, transparent and fully communicate throughout the whole process. Even if people don’t like the outcome they will appreciate being listened to, treated with consideration and fairly treated.
What are the changes?
Employees can request flexible working sooner
Day One Requests: Employees no longer have to wait 26 weeks to request flexible working. They can now request flexible working arrangements from their very first day.
Two opportunities to apply each year: They can now submit two formal requests within a year.
Meaningful consultation is key: Employers are now legally required to consult with employees before rejecting a flexible working request. Employers need to communicate with the employee and provide alternatives to the original request if it is not viable.
A faster response time: Be prepared to respond to flexible working requests within two months, instead of the previous three.
Benefits for businesses
While these changes may require some tweaks to your processes, they also present exciting possibilities for your teams:
A More Engaged Workforce: Offering flexible working options can significantly boost employee loyalty, morale, satisfaction, and productivity. You’ll feel the benefits of greater employee engagement.
A more inclusive workforce: By embracing flexibility, you can attract a more diverse pool of talented individuals. There are so many benefits to supporting a more inclusive workforce; including greater innovation, creativity and in addition; less tricky people issues.
Different ways of working: Traditional ways of working are quickly becoming outdated; your business needs to keep up with current trends to retain and attract the best people.
How to Make Flexible Working Work for You
The recent changes may require some adjustments, but they also present exciting opportunities. Here are some steps you can take:
Develop a clear and up-to-date Flexible Working Policy.
Communicate the changes to your team and equip managers to handle requests effectively.
Review your recruitment process to see if roles can be adapted for flexible work.
Be transparent about limitations in job adverts and internal job descriptions, but always explore possibilities for flexibility in most roles. A bit of creative thinking can go a long way.
Contact us for a free consultation to discuss your specific needs.
We can assist you in updating your policies, creating communication materials, and training your managers.
By following these tips and embracing the opportunities presented by flexible work, you can create a thriving and successful business in today's evolving workplace.
About Mountain HR
We help companies create happy, productive teams. We tackle tricky people issues, boost employee morale, and set you up as an employer of choice.
We offer a comprehensive range of HR services, including policy creation, employee engagement projects, executive coaching and manager training. Let us handle the HR headaches, so you can focus on achieving your business goals.
