1. ABOUT THIS POLICY
1.1 This flexible working policy gives eligible employees an opportunity to request a change to their working pattern.
1.2 We will deal with flexible working requests in a reasonable manner and within a reasonable time. In any event the time between making a request and notifying you of a final decision (including the outcome of any appeal) will be less than three months unless we have agreed a longer period with you.
1.3 This policy does not form part of any employee’s or worker’s contract of employment or engagement and we may amend it at any time.
2. ELIGIBILITY
2.1 To be eligible to make a flexible working request, you must:
- (a) be an employee;
- (b) have worked for us continuously for at least 26 weeks at the date your request is made; and
- (c) not have made a flexible working request during the last 12 months (even if you withdrew that request).
3. WHAT IS A FLEXIBLE WORKING REQUEST?
3.1 A flexible working request under this policy means a request to do any or all of the following:
- (a) to reduce or vary your working hours;
- (b) to reduce or vary the days you work;
- (c) to work from a different location (for example, from home).
4. MAKING A FLEXIBLE WORKING REQUEST
4.1 Your flexible working request should be submitted to your manager in writing and dated. It should:
- (a) state that it is a flexible working request;
- (b) explain the change being requested and propose a start date;
- (c) identify the impact the change would have on the business and how that might be dealt with; and
- (d) state whether you have made any previous flexible working requests.
5. MEETING
5.1 We will arrange a meeting at a convenient time and place to discuss your request. You may be accompanied at the meeting by a colleague of your choice. They will be entitled to speak and confer privately with you, but may not answer questions on your behalf.
5.2 We may decide to grant your request in full without a meeting, in which case we will write to you with our decision.
6. DECISION
6.1 We will inform you in writing of our decision as soon as possible after the meeting.
6.2 If your request is accepted, we will write to you with details of the new working arrangements and the date on which they will commence. You will be asked to sign and return a copy of the letter.
6.3 If we cannot immediately accept your request we may require you to undertake a trial period before reaching a final decision on your request.
6.4 Unless otherwise agreed, changes to your terms of employment will be permanent.
6.5 We may reject your request for one or more of the following business reasons:
- (a) the burden of additional costs;
- (b) detrimental effect on ability to meet customer demand;
- (c) inability to reorganise work among existing staff;
- (d) inability to recruit additional staff;
- (e) detrimental impact on quality;
- (f) detrimental impact on performance;
- (g) insufficiency of work during the periods that you propose to work; or
- (h) planned changes.
6.6 If we are unable to agree to your request, we will write to tell you which of those reasons applies in your case. We will also set out the appeal procedure.
7. APPEAL
7.1 You may appeal in writing within 14 days of receiving our written decision. This includes a decision following a trial period.
7.2 Your appeal must be dated and must set out the grounds on which you are appealing.
7.3 We will hold a meeting with you to discuss your appeal. You may bring a colleague to the meeting.
7.4 We will tell you in writing of our final decision as soon as possible after the appeal meeting, including reasons. There is no further right of appeal.
