💡 𝗣𝗿𝗼 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗢𝗼𝗸𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗶 𝗧𝗶𝗽: UK Employees Can Now Request Flexible Hours From Day One

Since 6 April 2024, UK employees no longer need to wait six months before requesting flexible working hours. From day one, you can ask for:

✅ Flexitime – Start at 10 AM instead of 9 AM.
✅ Compressed hours – Work 35 hours over 4 days instead of 5.
✅ Staggered shifts – Share shifts with a colleague.

💡 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: A parent returning to work might request an early finish twice a week to pick up their child.

🛑 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗦𝗮𝘆 𝗡𝗼?

Yes, but they must provide a justified reason for refusing. Common reasons include:

🔹 High cost – A retail store may need to hire extra staff to cover new shift patterns.
🔹 Operational needs – A customer service role may require fixed hours to cover peak times.
🔹 Workload issues – If no one is available to cover your proposed hours.

💡 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: A small bakery might reject a 4-day workweek request if weekend shifts would be understaffed.

⏳ 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗙𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀

📌 Submit a written request – No formal template required.
📌 Employers must respond within 2 months (shorter than before).
📌 They must consult you before refusing.

💡 Pro tip: Frame it as a win-win, it helps to explain how the change benefits both you and the business.

👉 "Starting later would help me avoid traffic delays, so I’ll be more punctual and focused."

📜 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂

⚖️ You can make two requests per year.
⚖️ Employers must justify refusals.
⚖️ Retaliation is illegal.

💬 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗔𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲

Knowing your rights means you’re in control. Flexible working isn’t just about convenience, it can boost productivity, retention, and work-life balance. The same day-one rules also cover asking to work remotely from day one.

📢 At Ookulli, we do more than review contracts, we help you understand your rights and benefits, so you can play the game knowing the rules.