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Career changes and transitions

How to ask for flexible working (England, Scotland and Wales)

What a statutory flexible working request must include in Great Britain, how employers must handle it, and how Northern Ireland's rules differ.

By LuceriaPublished Updated

What you can ask for

GOV.UK says employees can ask to change the number of hours they work, when they start or finish, the days they work and where they work. Common requests include compressed hours, part-time hours, staggered start times, job sharing and working from home on some days.

In Great Britain you can make two statutory applications in any twelve-month period, so it is worth making the first one well prepared.

What the request must include

Required content of a statutory request

  • The date of the request.
  • A statement that this is a statutory request for flexible working.
  • Details of how you want to work flexibly and when you want the change to start.
  • A statement of whether and when you have made a previous application, with its date.

Your employer may ask you to use its own form. Acas also publishes a template you can use.

Make the business case

The law does not require you to justify the request, but a request that answers the employer's likely concerns is easier to agree. Show how the work will be covered, how colleagues and customers will reach you and how you will review it together.

A request you can adapt
Date: [date]
This is a statutory request for flexible working.
I would like to work [pattern, for example four longer days, Monday to Thursday] from [start date].
My core responsibilities would be covered as follows: [how deadlines, meetings and cover will work].
I suggest a three-month trial with a review meeting at the end.
I [have not made a previous application / made a previous application on (date)].

How your employer must respond

Employers must deal with requests in a reasonable manner, discuss the request with you before refusing it, and make a decision within two months unless you agree an extension. If they agree, your contract should be updated. If they refuse, they must give a business reason from the list set out in law, such as extra costs that would damage the business, being unable to reorganise the work among other staff, or a detrimental effect on quality or performance.

If the answer is no

  • Ask whether a different pattern or a trial period would be acceptable.
  • Use any internal appeal process your employer offers.
  • Check whether the refusal reason matches the business reasons allowed.
  • If the decision affects whether you stay, it may be a reason to look for roles advertised as flexible.

Common questions

Can I ask about flexible working before accepting a job offer?

Yes. Asking at offer stage is common, and some adverts state which patterns are possible. Once employed, you can also make a statutory request from your first day.

Do I have to give a reason for my request?

You do not have to give a personal reason, but explaining how the work will be covered usually makes agreement easier.

Sources

Put it into practice

Guidance by career stage
Job hunting while employedPlanning a career breakMore on career changes and transitions

Drafted with AI assistance and checked against Luceria’s editorial standards. Examples are illustrative, not real people’s results. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.